According to the Vanguard, the Federal Executive Council, FEC, has approved contracts worth N8.3 billion for the construction of Inland River Ports and also dredging of rivers as part of efforts to resuscitate the Inland waterways transport system.
The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, stated this while briefing State House Correspondents on the outcome of the weekly FEC meeting, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Giving a breakdown of the expenditure, Maku said N4.1 billion would be spent on the construction of the Inland River Port, Jamata, while N2 billion would go into the dredging of a channel along the Orashi River from Oguta Lake in Imo to Degema in Rivers.
The minister added that N2.1 billion would be expended on shore protection and dredging reclamation works at selected sites along the River Niger.
He said the reclamation works would be carried out at Patani and Aseomoku in Delta; Ilushi in Edo as well as Okun and Kelebe in Kogi.
[mappress]
Dredging Today Staff, May 3, 2012;