The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) says the federal government has approved the transportation of goods on the dredged channel of River Niger.

NIWA general manager (corporate affairs), Jibril Darda’u, announced this in a statement in Lokoja on Wednesday.

“This is a feat the federal government has achieved owing to its efforts at dredging River Niger over the years toward improving transportation in the country,” said the statement. “West African Ceramic Ltd. took advantage of the dredged channel of River Niger in conveying the quantum of tiles to Onitsha for marketing purposes.”

The NIWA statement added that the goods were “successfully loaded on a Barge M.V Vega, owned by the company, using a tugboat piloted by NIWA onboard crew with an escort from Inland Waterways police for adequate security.”

NIWA explained that the distance between Ajaokuta and Onitsha is 162km on the channel of River Niger, successfully covered by the barge to and from the goods without any hindrance.

It urged other companies, corporate organisations, businessmen and women to take advantage of the dredged channel from Ajaokuta to Onitsha, which is 162km in moving in or out their goods or products.

(NAN)