The Federal Government has invested about N50 billion in inland waterways to ensure its efficiency, the Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Hajiya Maryam Ciroma, has said.
The investment, she said in Lagos, is to modernise the sector and boost the economy.
Nigeria’s natural endowment in inland waterways is about 10,000 kilometres, which if developed through dredging and provision of auxiliary facilities will provide all-year round navigation for the transportation of bulk cargo and passengers.
The Federal Government, it was learnt, invested the amount to promote the movement of goods and persons through the waterways.
Over N36 billion of the amount, it was gathered, was spent on the dredging of River Niger to attract local and foreign investors in shipping and promote carriage of inland cargoes through the water.
Also, it was gathered that an additional N13 billion was spent on the construction of jetties and other ports along the coast line to ease cargo movement and remove pressure on the roads. In addition, N700 million was spent on machines to eradicate water hyacinths for safe navigation.
Mrs Ciroma said the Federal Government injected the amount to open up the waterways to local and foreign investors and provide jobs for the youth.
NIWA, she said, is poised to transform inland waterways infrastructure in line with the Federal Government’s vision towards creating a modern competitive multi-modal inland water transport system, offering services that are consistent with global best practices.
She said in addition to the dredging of the river, the government was also planning to concession the Onitsha River port in Anambra State to promote trade and commerce, adding that Nigeria is blessed with a large network of inland waters and that government is set to promote inland water transportation because it is the cheapest means of transporting goods.
According to her, during the colonial ere, there were barges that moved cargoes from Warri in Delta State to Baro, in Niger State, saying the government is determined to revive the system.
“The nation’s inland water transport system is grossly underutilised and as we tap into it, it will reduce the pressure on the existing roads as many goods being transported by road will pass through the water,” she said.
The NIWA boss also mentioned that the lower river Niger has been dredged by 2.5 metres to allow cargo and passenger vessels and badges to navigate the water even when the tide is low.
The dredging of the lower river Niger, she said, covered a total of 500 kilometres from Gwari to Baro area of the Niger, adding that the government has created enabling environment for the private investor to invest and help to develop the water transport sector. She said NIWA has been given the nod to open up the waterways for a proper transportation system.
In this respect, she said NIWA is planning to hold a three-day international conference to complement the government’s efforts on opening up the nation’s inland waterways, pointing out that government has removed clog militating against the development of water transportation.
Hajiya Ciroma said the government is determined to develop a public transport system that would promote people’s safety and security, as well as create jobs for the youths and boost economic development.
She said the banking sector is expected to play a prominent role at the proposed conference, adding that the agency will use the forum and the exhibition to showcase the huge investment made by the government to the world. She said the inland waters have numerous opportunities to be tapped by importers within and outside the country.
“Nigeria cannot afford to be lagging behind in modernisation. We need to bring our developments to international standard, so it is important for us to organise the exhibition to know what is obtained internationally so that we too can bring such development to our country,” she said.
