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A University don, Anthony Ali has called on the Federal Government to revive transportation system on the Lower Niger River to complement other existing modes of transport in the country.
Dr. Ali, who was a guest lecturer at the University of Jos Alumni Association, Kogi State Chapter, made the call yesterday during the University of Jos Alumni Association Annual Lecture held at the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.
According to him, if the Federal Government develop transportation on the Lower Niger River it would serve as an alternative to road transport and thereby decongesting the roads of heavy traffic and minimise the menace of trailers on Nigerian roads.
In his lecture titled, “Reposition Transportation Business on the Lower Niger River”, the don opined that there was an urgent need for a landward connection to the inland river ports of Lokoja, Onisha and Warri to decongest the Lagos seaports at Apapa and Tin Can Island.
Dr. Ali who is a Senior Lecturer at the department of History and International Studies, Federal University Lokoja, noted that reviving transportation on the Lower Niger River as it was in the hey days of European water traffic, would facilitate the conveyance of bulky goods such as iron and Steel products, cement and the rest.
Dr. Ali enjoined the federal and state governments of the river rine areas to jointly invest and also encourage private entrepreneur to invest on transportation business on the Lower Niger River.
He said to reposition transportation on the Lower Niger River, government must eschew politics especially as it affects the issue of dredging which is highly technical and professional.
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