From Ben Dunno, Warri

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The management of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has expressed optimism that the long-awaited dredging of the Escravos bar that had impeded the coming in of big vessels and other ocean going barges to Warri Port would soon commence. The Escravos Bar dredging is part of measures being put in place to make the seaport commercially viable.
Managing Director of the NPA, Ms Hadiza Usman, who made this disclosure at a stakeholders meeting held in Warri, recently, noted that the NPA board had concluded all necessary feasibility studies on the dredging and was waiting for ministerial approval, which might come in the next three months.
“We have briefed the stakeholders on the efforts that the authority has made in the provision of tugboats, provision of pilot cutters and also our intention to commence the dredging within the Escravos Bar.
“We have reached an advanced stage in our procurement process to enable us provide the dredging works and the navigational aid for Escravos Bar. “This is why we are primarily here to dialogue on how we can ensure that traffic comes to Delta ports and all the eastern ports of the country.
“There’s a timeline to the engagement of the contractor. We are hopeful that within the next 12 weeks, we will get the necessary approvals from the ministerial tenders board to enable us engage the contractors that will provide dredging works and navigational aids to the Escravos Bar,” she said.