The North Central leader and Kogi State chairman of the Youth Congress, Comrade Alfa Ebune, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to prioritize the dredging of River Niger to activate water transportation for economic development.
In a statement issued yesterday, Ebune said developing water transportation has become necessary to decongest highways and also reduce incessant accidents on the roads.
“Waterways transportation would no doubt improve economy and living standard of people living along riverine areas. That is why we are earnestly appealing to the federal government to emphasize on operationalization of water transportation so that the potential that abound in the sector can be optimally harnessed to improve the living standard of Nigerians,” he said.
He said aside the economic value of water transportation, the Nigeria roads that often got dilapidated as a result of heavy-duty vehicles will be minimized, noting that the huge amount of money spent annually on road rehabilitation can be channelled to other sectors to boost the nation economy.
He commended the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Dr George Moghalu for his efforts aimed at repositioning the authority.
