Onyebuchi Ezigbo
2 December 2008
Abuja — The Federal Government yesterday signed a N34.8bn contract for the dredging of the Lower Niger. The project, which covers about 572km stretches from Warri in Delta State to Baro in Niger State.
Minister of Transportation, Mrs. Deziani Allison-Madueke, who signed the agreement on behalf of the government, said the project was divided into five sections and awarded to five different contracting firms to ensure that they were completed within the stipulated time.
The duration of the completion of the project is one year while a two year maintenance agreement has also been signed between the government and the contractors.
Allison-Madueke, who gave the break down of the project, explained that the 154 kilometre dredging from Warri to Bifurcation of Farcados and River Nun was awarded to Fung Tai (Nig) Limited at the cost of N4, 836,943,125 while the 116 kilometre Bifurcation of Farcados and River Nun to Onitsha, Anambra State was awarded to Dredging International Limited at the sum of N3, 889,174,896.
Similarly, the dredging of the 118-kilometre Onitsha to Ida in Kogi State was awarded to Van Oord (Nig) Ltd at the cost of N9, 869,504,700, the 108 kilometre Ida to Jamata also awarded to Van Oord at N12, 545,469,550 and the 76 kilometre Jamata to Baro awarded to Williams Llyods Tech. Company at the cost of N3, 665,261,250.
The Consultants who got the design contracts include, Royal Haskoning, N156, 274, 609, 06, Jayuda Int. Ltd, N126, 846, 395,76, Dredging & Marine Consultants Ltd., N312, 535,645,95, Enplan Group, N395, 626,292,59 and Aims Consultants Ltd with N119, 939,886,87 respectively.
The dredging of the River Niger, the minister said, has been in the pipeline for the past 45 years, adding that the present administration was taking it up because of its importance to the nation's economy. She described the occasion as historic and another milestone in the current effort to provide Nigerians with a seamless, intermodal and cheaper means of transportation.
" This ceremony is very historic because it is taking 45 years to bring this project to fruition. The project has been on the front burner of this administration. At last, the country would be able to provide the navigability required in the lower Niger and take heavy tonnage and at long run have a positive effect on the economy of the country.
"It would open up a completely new realm of possibilities, in terms of inland waterways and in terms of navigability and transportation and commerce and industry in the areas that it will affect along the lower River Niger. As we all know, this is an area of over 500 kilometres, that affect many, many communities that live and work along that waterway," she said.
According to the minister, the dredging project was in line with the 7-point agenda of the present government in its efforts to develop critical transportation infrastructure and actualising Vision 2020.
She appealed to the contractors to handle the project with the urgency and seriousness it deserved and to ensure that the project was successfully completed on schedule.
The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Nigeria, Mr. Aric Van Der Wiel, said that the completion of the project was important to the development of Nigeria, as it would reduce traffic on the roads.
The whole world, the envoy noted, has been concerned about climate change and its impact on the environment adding that water transportation is more environmental friendly. He assured that the contractors who are mostly from Netherlands would help to make the River Niger usable for transportation.
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please i just read and online that its not only Van oords that are handling the contract. I want to specifically knw if they have commenced theres? I want to knw about them. because i was ment to be part of there medical team , but the lost contact with the person recruiting us here in Abuja. She lost her phone and they couldnt get across to her again. pls do respond if they have started. thanks