NIWA MD Raises Alarm Over Abandoned N5bn Lokoja River Port

Abiola Seun |

The managing director of the National Inland Waterways Lokoja, Dr. George Muoghalu has expressed worry over the non completion of the Jamata River port in Lokoja, several years after the contract was signed.

Recall that the contract for the over Five billion naira lokoja river port which was awarded to Inter Bau construction limited, along side that of the Baro port several years ago was abandoned by the contractor, even when the Baro port had long been completed.

Also, in March, 2019, the agency signed a N1.6bn contract agreement with Messrs Liebherr Nigeria Limited for the supply and installation of 64 tonnes mobile harbour crane equipment for Lokoja River Port.

The move according to the authority was part of efforts aimed at ensuring completion and take off of the Lokoja River Port.

But, the NIWA boss who was on assessment visit to the site bemoaned the abandoned state of the port even as he said that the federal government will take steps to engage the contractor and relevant stakeholders to bring life back to the project.

“We are here to see what can be done to save government’s investment here. We cannot allow it to waste. That is basically why we are here today.

“The port is very important to the socio-economic development of the country. The local community and indeed Kogi which is the host state would equally benefit from the operation of the port.

“I can assure Nigerians that the federal government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is very desirous of ensuring all year round navigation on the lower Niger.

“If the waterways transport is effective, it will reduce pressure on our roads, they will last longer, because heavy bulky goods can now be transported through the water instead of the road.

It was gathered that the job on the River port is about forty per cent completion and only uncompleted buildings and abandoned equipment were left at the site, as the contractor and his workers were not on site.