Several weeks after the federal government flagged-off the much-expected dredging of lower River Niger, it has been difficult for contractors to move into site especially at the lower course.
Transport minister, Alhaji Isa Bio raised the concern in Warri when he paid a visit to he Governor of Delta state, Dr Emmnauel Uduaghan at the government house annex. The minister consequently appealed to the governor to assist the transport ministry by providing needed adequate security, saying that Delta is a major beneficiary of the project.
President Yar Adua had about three weeks ago promised that each of the states where the dredging will pass through will have river port.
The Niger River dredging is expected to traverse Niger, Kogi, Anambra, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states.
But reacting to the appeal by the minister, the governor disclosed that the state government was already working out modalities to ensure that the contractors had no problems moving into the site and that a committee is already in the works to handle all security situations.The lot one or phase one of the project covers Delta state’s axis on the project and the Governor assured that providing adequate security for the project would not be a problem.
Dr Uduaghan stated that his deputy, Prof Amos Utuama would head the special security committee, even as he added that “the committee is a strategic initiative of the state government, which was necessitated by the complexity of security issues,” adding, “We are committed to our strategy towards meeting these complex challenges”.
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