The Federal Government says it has begun the re-assessment of the N36 billion Lower River Niger dredging project to ascertain the effect of the recent floods on it.

The Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NAN), Alhaji Aminu Yar'Adua, disclosed this to newsmen yesterday in Lokoja.

Yar'Adua said that the reconfirmation survey had become necessary following the discovery that the dredged channel in the river had shifted position.

He attributed the shift to the high current of water experienced during the recent floods in Kogi and some states of the country.

Besides, Yar'Adua said that the high current of water had also deepened the river by as high as 12 metres above the dredged channel.

According to him, the channel has also silted up at some points

He said that the re-assessment would stretch from Baro in Niger State to Onitsha in Anambra State.

He added that the Federal Ministry of Transport in Abuja had been notified of the development. (NAN)