The Federal Government said it has awarded the contract for the remedial dredging of the Escravos channel in Delta State, to expand the channel and enable bigger vessels to visit the port.
This was disclosed by the managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, who spoke when he led his team to visit the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III at his Palace, in Warri, on Tuesday.
According to him, the dredging, which has since commenced and is about halfway done, will enable the port in the State to have a better draft, and record fewer incidences of vessels running aground when completed.
“We all know that the breakwaters collapsed about 10 years ago, and there has been high siltation resulting in a reduction of the draft from 7 meters to 3 meters in some places.”
He noted that the Ports Authority has also started the mapping and charting of the Escravos channel starting from the fairway buoy down to Koko Port.
The essence, he said, is to “enable us to be able to know the draft along the way and also ensure that the navigational aids are properly placed. This is because there are some decisions that can only be taken after knowing that the channel has been properly mapped and surveyed.”
“We have a special interest in ensuring that Warri and other ports are more active. This is why we have been holding stakeholders’ meetings and we are going to Port Harcourt for another one. This enables us to engage with the importers and exporters for them to know that these ports are available for use. We will deploy more marine equipment and ensure that the signals are also working to ensure safe navigation of vessels,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Olu of Warri in his remarks said that the opening of the ports will yield positive results for the benefit of the importing community as well as drive the economy of neighbouring cities.
