- NIWA boss canvasses functional waterways to save highways
- Group laments poor infrastructure in FCT community, donates food, others
Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, has expressed concern over untapped water resources in the North.
Unknown to Nigerians, he told journalists in Kaduna, at the weekend, River Kaduna harbours huge deposit of raw gold, other mineral resources as well as varieties of delicious fishes.
Besides, Jamoh corrected the impression that there could not be maritime activity in the North, pointing out that dredging of the waterways would spike economic activities.
The maritime boss cited Egypt, where artificial lakes were converted for maritime activities, adding that the North should begin to think outside the box and dredge its waterways for socio-economic gains.
ONLY a functional maritime sector can save Nigerian roads from total collapse, the Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Dr. George Moghalu, has said.
He disclosed the approval of a new salary package for the staff, charging them to give their best, as “to whom much is given, much is expected.”
Speaking during the end-of-year get-together at NIWA headquarters in Lokoja, Kogi State, Moghalu noted that the Nigerian maritime could become the biggest sector of the economy, with an estimated 100,000km of inland waters and 28 states that could be accessed by water, but decried the under-utilisation of the sector.
VALUE Rediscovery International Foundation (Value Red), in conjunction with the Sunfair Project, has lamented poor infrastructure in Kuchingoro community of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Executive Director of Sunfair Project, Mr. Tive Denedo, disclosed this while donating food, clothes and other items to over 300 less-privileged persons in Kuchingoro, as parts of its massive charity drive for the Christmas season.
He said the gesture was aimed at making life easier for the beneficiaries.
“Roads in Kuchingoro community are not good. There is no pipe-borne water. Most of them here are farmers, who are living below the $1 threshold a day.
“This is the period to give and we want to give to those who are in need, especially the senior citizens out-of-school children. Jesus was given to us as an offering for the forgiveness of sins and the offer of salvation,” he said.
The Executive Director, Value Red, Mr. Oche Ocheme, remarked that the outreach’s aim was to change the orientation of people, especially the vulnerable ones in the society.
“It is our little effort to put smile on the faces of people and to identify with them. During this festive season, people find it difficult to feed; so we decided to give them these gifts from our heart.
“In those days, we have this communal mentality where we eat and share with our neighbours. But now, this communal life has become so disintegrated and secluded that we don’t even care,” he stated.
According to him, road infrastructure does not last because it was not designed to carry the kind of weight it carries daily.
