The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, has described the nation’s Inland Waterways as cash cows long overdue for harnessing, as it abounds with economic potential capable of revolutionizing the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
The Minister made this known on Friday in Abuja at the inauguration of the Technical Working Group (TWG) Proposal for Channel Management between Escravos, Onitsha and Baro Port on the Niger River on Public Private Partnership (PPP) Arrangement.
He said that the aim is that when containers come into Lagos, there will be no need to discharge those meant for Onitsha in Lagos, but transport them in barges or vessels that can transverse low draughts to Onitsha port to be picked by vehicles for distribution in the hinterlands
Muazu noted that the primary objective is to invest, maintain and operate a high grade Inland Waterways channel between Baro River Port point to Onitsha River Port to the Warri Port at the Niger River and onward connection to the Gulf of Guinea for a sustainable maritime transportation route and lay a solid foundation for navigation network that would connect the Lagos ports, Lekki Deep Seaport with the Onitsha and Baro River Port for transportation of containerized and none containerized cargoes for shipping efficiency in Nigeria.
Sambo observed that the value of such activities will lead to the decongestion of Lagos Ports, prolong the life span of the roads, reduce pollution, and create a new mode of transportation by water, which in turn will engage civilians and security forces as the cargoes have to be escorted.
One of the terms of Reference of the Technical Working Group is to X-ray policies applicable for the purpose of putting the Inland waterways Channel to economic use.
The 18-Man TWG has technocrats from National Inland Waterways, Nigeria Ports Authority, the Navy among others, with the Permanent Secretary, Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, as Chairman, the Managing Director, NIWA, Dr. George Moghalu, as Alternate Chairman, the Deputy General Manager, Business Development, NIWA, Hassan Kaka as Secretary.
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