Reps Summon Minister Over River Niger Dredging

The House of Representatives has directed its Committee on Marine Transport to summon the Minister of Transport to explain the actual position of the dredging work on the River Niger.

The Committee, which is to report back to the House within four weeks, was also directed to invite the Managing Director of National Inland Waterways and the contractors  handling handling the project.

The resolution followed a motion on the matter by Rep. Ibrahim Ebbo (PDP – Niger), which was unanimously adopted without debate.

Moving the motion earlier, Ebbo noted that two years after the extended time line for the completion of the contract, work on the project was still not completed.

He explained that the dredging of the River Niger would be of tremendous importance to the socio – economic development of the country.

The lawmaker expressed worry that a substantial amount of money had been paid to the contractors since the commencement of the work in 2009.

He alleged that work on the project had stopped, as no action was seen going on, adding: “ if no concrete actions are taken, the contract might soon be abandoned”.

The motion was referred to the Committee on Marine Transport for further legislative inputs.

The House, in another motion on the need to construct a pedestrian bridge at Asaba Junction along Benin – Onitsha expressway, urged the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently provide the bridge to reduce accidents.

The motion brought by Rep. Ndudu Elumelu (PDP – Delta) was also adopted without debate, because it had to do with infrastructure.

The rule of the House provides that motions on infrastructures needed no debate.

The Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, referred the motion to the Committee on Works for more action.

Meanwhile, the House has passed a bill for an Act to Amend the Investment and Securities Commission Act 2007.

The bill seeks to provide for greater transparency and accountability in the finances of the commission, and to ensure greater legislative oversight.

Also, a bill for an Act to establish the Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy, Enugu scaled through the second reading.

The bill, brought by Rep. Toby Okechukwu (PDP – Enugu), seeks to provide for courses leading to the award of Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates in Dental Technology and Dental Therapy.