NCT tasks NIWA on wrecks’ removal, river port in Ondo

Worried by the reported littering of wrecks on Nigerian waterways, the National Council on Transport (NCT), at the weekend, advised National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to put measures in place to tackle the menace.
The council, in a communiqué issued at the end of its 13th meeting held in Lagos, also advised NIWA to consider the dredging of shallow areas of inland waterways and provide navigational aids.
The council resolved that NIWA should consider the establishment of Inland River Port at Alape, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, for implementation in line with its development plans.
According to the council, the Federal Government should facilitate the building of weigh bridges on interstate corridors in order to safeguard the Nation’s major highways while the “Law that restricts states should be looked into”.

The communiqué explained that the concessioning of Onitsha River Port would soon commence with the appointment of transaction adviser.
The council also resolved that federal and state governments should establish Truck Transit Parks (TTPs), “whether individually or as collaboration between them or on a PPP arrangement.”
The communiqué advised state governments to establish Motor Vehicle Administration Agencies “that will collaborate with Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) with respect to issuance of vehicle licences and other related functions.”
Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, during the council’s deliberations, said that the Federal Government has concluded plans to concession the Baro, Oguta and Lokoja river ports.
He said that the maintenance dredging of the lower River Niger channel is an ongoing project that will suffice after the completion of capital dredging.



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