THE Nigerian government has agreed to plans to dredge the river Niger, from the coast to the federal capital, Abuja, opening it up to major river boat traffic. The project will cost 8,3-billion naira (about $10-million), said Major-General Mohammed Buhari, chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund and a former military ruler of Nigeria. Contracts are to be awarded in the coming two months to complete the work on the river, the third longest in Africa and which crosses Nigeria from north to south, passing through Abuja in the centre.