LAGOS, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria has begun processes for promoting a proper channel for navigation and irrigation on the River Niger, the country's Minister of Water Resources said Tuesday.
Suleiman Adamu said the project would be executed in partnership with the Hungarian government to seek ways to introduce river training toward protecting the river banks and flood plains.
He said although the huge infrastructure project would take time, the ministry had commenced negotiations with the Hungarian experts.
Measuring 4,280 kilometers with a basin that is spread over 2.2 million square kilometers, the River Niger whose origin is in Faranah region in southeast Conakry, passes through African countries including Guinea, Mali, Niger, Benin and Nigeria where it pours into the Atlantic Ocean.
Adamu said the ministry would seek funding for the project in partnership with the private sector and stressed that Nigeria ought to have proper areas for irrigation without being devastated by flooding.
In 2012, Nigeria suffered heavy loss to flood that affected 30 states, leaving some 366 people died and 2.1 million others displaced.
The flood, termed the worst in 40 years, affected an estimated 7.1 million people and caused losses worth billions of U.S. dollars, according to National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
