Description

Dredging is fast becoming one of the emergent industries in Nigeria for accomplishing projects belonging to federal, state and local governments, as well as serving the various needs of oil field operating companies. It is also now becoming useful for private sector real estate development through the demand for sand.

It is widely agreed that one of the most basic needs of man is shelter and in time past man has experienced with different material in order to meet with his housing needs. In modern day history, the use of cement along with sand and gravel as come to be accepted as one of the best construction raw material because they provide durability, firmness and can withstand harsh weather conditions though other materials like steel and glass are also used.

The ever increasing deficit in housing supply in Nigeria which is estimated at over sixteen million {16,000,000} units and the need for the construction of other important infrastructure if the country is to meet up with the vision 20:2020 project of becoming amongst the top 20 economies in the world by 2020 continues to drive the need to sand, an essential construction raw material and the need for the use of modern equipment in the production of sand, in order to meet with demands.

Dredging can be applied in Reclamation, River crossing, Canalization, Shore protection, Sweeping and Stock piling (pump and sale), though the focus of these feasibility report is on Stock piling (pump and sale). The first 5 mentioned projects come as contract and can only be awarded after inspection of someones equipments.

The market for stockpiling for commercial purpose is high and very lucrative. This is especially in high populated and fast growing state like Lagos state, where massive housing estates and good road networks requiring land and sharp sand, dots every nook and cranny. The consequence is high demand and subsequent high price.

The major providers of dredging activities are geared towards stockpiling for sale. Only very few sand suppliers use manual method to scoop sand from the creek. The result is that only a small percentage of demand for sharp sand is met while large abound for the future entrants.

Opportunities also exist in the leasing of dredgers in Nigeria. The cost of leasing dredgers in Nigeria is dependent on size ,manufacturer and pump rate.