A shipper, Mr Christopher Okorie, has advised the Federal Government to expedite action on maintenance dredging of River Niger to avoid recurrence of flooding.
Okorie, the Chairman, Phonic Marine Ltd. said in Port Harcourt last week that maintenance dredging, which should be quarterly, should also apply to other waterways.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) said it had completed the capital dredging of the river more than two years ago.
A shipper, Mr Christopher Okorie, has advised the Federal Government to expedite action on maintenance dredging of River Niger to avoid recurrence of flooding.
Okorie, the Chairman, Phonic Marine Ltd. said in Port Harcourt last week that maintenance dredging, which should be quarterly, should also apply to other waterways.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) said it had completed the capital dredging of the river more than two years ago.
Okorie said that maintenance dredging would facilitate regular usage of the river by vessels and would also checkmate the water level.
“This is why government should pay proper attention to maritime sector and encourage water transportation.
“The flood will not have taken us by surprise if we have been using vessels and boats on our rivers and seas.
“We would have known practically the surge of the water if we have been conversant with the waterways.
“Waterways, like roads, depreciate with regular usage and government should maintain the existing ones,’’ Okorie said.
The shipper said the cause of the flooding was accumulation of water especially from the dams.
He said that the disaster would have been prevented if the waterways were being used daily.
‘’Apart from fishing, there is no other attention we pay to our seas and rivers.
‘’Countries that use their waterways regularly do not witness this kind of flood,’’ Okorie said.
He advised that government should make regular use of the waterways just like the roads to forestall future disaster.
Okorie said it was time the maritime sector was patronised and promoted by the Federal Government.
He said that government would gain a lot by developing the maritime sector.
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