shippingposition
  • Home
  • News
  • Editorial
    • Vox Pop
  • Maritime safety
  • Oil and Gas
  • Personality
  • Health
No Result
View All Result
shippingposition

Home » Minister Accuses Ex–President Obasanjo of Wasting $56million on Dredging

Minister Accuses Ex–President Obasanjo of Wasting $56million on Dredging

by Joshua
March 30, 2009
in Uncategorized

Minister of transport, Alhaji Ibrahim Isa Bio has accused the regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo of wasting a whooping $56Million on dredging of channels and waterways in the country.
The minister, who made the disclosure in Calabar last week while on a tour of Calabar port, disclosed that he made the discovery in the handing over notes which were given to him by his predecessor, Prince Okechukwu Emeka.
Although Alhaji Bio did not give details of which channels and inland waterways that the money was voted for, he however said that the much expected dredging of Calabar channel was surveyed in 2003, but regretted that not much has been achieved since then.   
“During the handing over and taking over, I also realize that Calabar port was surveyed in 2003 for dredging and dredging commenced in 2006. However, due to some reasons, technical or whatever, I don’t know, the dredging was not completed”, he stated.
Apart form the Calabar channel, government had at various times in the last nine years declared that it was going to dredge the lower Niger river from Niger state cutting across about nine states to Bayelsa state, but this has never materialized.
Confirming that the Calabar channel dredging project had been abandoned, Bio however assured that the project would be revisited in 2009 and lamented that it was regrettable that after spending so much money, no benefit can be derived form what has been done and accused the contractor of performing below expectations.  
“There is need for us to revisit again and dredge the whole channel of about 84 kilometers so that Calabar port will once again be very vibrant.
“Provisions have been made in the 2009 budget and it for us now to start the process, because we need to carry out a survey of the whole channel once again to be able to access and know the exact volume that we need  to remove for the port to be effectively put to use”, he stressed.
The minister confirmed that the government will commence the dredging project before the end of the second quarter to enable bigger vessels call at the port, even as he expressed optimism that if properly positioned to receive bigger vessels, Calabar port can take the pressure off Lagos ports thus helping to ensure that Lagos ports are no longer congested.
Bio also said that it was regrettable that a recent directive to shipping agents to divert their vessels to ports in the eastern operational flank of Nigerian Ports Authourity was not obeyed citing the unabated spate of militant activities within the Niger Delta region of the country.  
“We think that they will find the eastern ports convenient. We have already directed that they should be diverted. We have given that directive almost a month ago, but the implementation is what they are not willing to do. So the issue of diversion has been authorized, but they are raising some issues, one is based on security, they are saying
That in the eastern ports zone, there is security implication due to militancy activities, the other area is the depth of the channel to be able to accommodate big vessels”, he confirmed.


Related Posts

SHIPTALK: Basics About A Ship

SHIPTALK: Basics About A Ship

January 27, 2023
NAGAFF Congratulates Newly Promoted Comptrollers, Charges Them On Professionalism

NAGAFF Congratulates Newly Promoted Comptrollers, Charges Them On Professionalism

January 27, 2023
ONE To Acquire Three U.S. West Coast Container Terminals

ONE To Acquire Three U.S. West Coast Container Terminals

December 29, 2022
Shippers’ Council Collaborates With Institute On Training

Shippers’ Council Collaborates With Institute On Training

September 23, 2022

Discussion about this post

Latest News

“Anyone talking about 15% equity in CVFF is ignorant”

“Anyone talking about 15% equity in CVFF is ignorant”

January 27, 2023

Industry Advises Philippines on Training as EU Considers Crew Ban

SHIPTALK: Basics About A Ship

NAGAFF Congratulates Newly Promoted Comptrollers, Charges Them On Professionalism

Beware Of Activities Against Aquatic Plants, Animals – Marine NGO Warns

The World Awaits Trial Of Crew Of Heroic Idun In A Nigerian Court

All Set For Obangame Express 2023 International Maritime Exercise

Our Real Fears About The CVFF Disbursement

VESSELS EXPECTED AT LAGOS PORTS AS AT 27TH JANUARY, 2023.

Media Crucial To Nation Building- Channels TV Boss

Lekki Deep Seaport To Boost Non-Oil Revenue — NEPC

Military Destroys 39 Illegal Refineries, Apprehends Oil Thieves, Vandals

kindly like our Facebook page

Health

Unhealthy Environment Causes 12.6m Deaths Worldwide, WHO Says
Health

Unhealthy Environment Causes 12.6m Deaths Worldwide, WHO Says

December 19, 2022

The World Health Organisation has said that the number of people estimated to have died as a result of living...

Health Benefits And Side Effects Of Bitter Leaf

Health Benefits And Side Effects Of Bitter Leaf

December 12, 2022
More Women May Die During Childbirth In West Africa — Report

More Women May Die During Childbirth In West Africa — Report

December 12, 2022
The Many Wonderful Uses Of Onions

The Many Wonderful Uses Of Onions

December 5, 2022
Nigeria Yet To Achieve 70% COVID-19 Immunisation Coverage, Says NPHCDA

Nigeria Yet To Achieve 70% COVID-19 Immunisation Coverage, Says NPHCDA

December 5, 2022
COVID-19 Cases Increasing, Continue With Preventive Measures — UITH-ARD Warns

COVID-19 Cases Increasing, Continue With Preventive Measures — UITH-ARD Warns

December 5, 2022
Panic As Monkeypox Spreads To 32 States, Cases Now 604

Panic As Monkeypox Spreads To 32 States, Cases Now 604

November 28, 2022
Over 1bn Youths Risk Hearing Loss From Headphones, Loud Music — Study

Over 1bn Youths Risk Hearing Loss From Headphones, Loud Music — Study

November 28, 2022
Consuming Undercooked Meat May Lead To Tuberculosis — Epidemiologist

Consuming Undercooked Meat May Lead To Tuberculosis — Epidemiologist

November 28, 2022
Infertility Red Flags Men, Women Should Not Ignore – Experts

Infertility Red Flags Men, Women Should Not Ignore – Experts

November 28, 2022

© 2021 Shippingposition

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Coast To Coast
  • Oil and Gas
  • Maritime Education
  • The Terminals
  • Maritime safety

© 2021 Shippingposition