Harnessing Nigeria’s waterways for economic development
Statistics from the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) indicate that about 3,800 kilometers of the nation's waterways are navigable seasonally, with 28 out of the 36 states of the federation accessible by water.
Besides, Nigeria can also link five of its neighbouring countries through water, namelyBenin Republic (Port Novo), Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic.
However, despite the vast potential the nation has in terms of waterway channels linking many parts of its federating units and beyond, about 90 percent of movements involving persons, goods and services in the country are still being done through road transportation.
Stakeholders in the water transportation sector had at different fora harped on the need for big companies such as the Dangote Group to embrace the alternative of transporting their products through the waterways instead of hauling them via the roads.
The little priority accorded the water transportation system has led to exertion of too much pressure on the nation's road networks due to high volumes of vehicular traffic conveying passengers, heavy commodities, goods and services from one part of the country to the other on daily basis.
These constant pressures on the roads have given rise to negative consequences such as frequent auto crashes which often lead to loss of lives and property worth millions of naira, nervewracking traffic gridlocks and wearing out of our roads, amongst others.
All these factors and many others are reason that should make the government and other critical stakeholders in the transportation sector to see to the development and effective utilization of the waterways.
The bulk of the nation's navigable water channels which link most parts of the country are said to be found within the two main rivers - Niger and Benue.
Indeed, it has been established by NIWA that at least, 17 out of the 28 Nigeria as a nation is endowed with vast resource base of waterways spanning about 10,000 kilometers, our reporter analyses the potential of the waterways and effort to utilise them in recent times. states of the federation Mustapha, assumed which are accessible office, he made the through water are linked maintenance dredging through the two rivers. of the Ajaokuta-Onitsha
Amongst the states that water channels a priority can be accessed either to enable the companies through river Niger or already transacting Benue include Adamawa, their businesses on the Anambra, Bauchi, waterways to continue Bayelsa, Benue, Delta, and also encourage others Edo, Gombe, Kebbi, Kogi, to join. Kwara, Niger, Nasarawa, The Minister of Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto Transportation, Mr Rotimi and Taraba. Amaechi, flagged off the
No doubt, it was in view maintenance dredging of the vast transportation of the 162km AjaokutaOnitsha and commercial potential water channel. of these two rivers that the Performing the Federal Government in ceremony at Ajaokuta, 2009 awarded contract for Kogi State, the the dredging of the lower minister noted that the River Niger at the cost of maintenance dredging over N33 billion. would go a long way in
The project which was increasing the value of flagged off by the late water fronts and boost Nigeria President, Alhaji economic activities across Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, communities on the river was aimed at boosting banks. water transportation, He said the dredging, socio-economic and which is being done commercial activities in in-house by staff of the country. the National Inland
The capital dredging Waterways Authority of the River Niger which (NIWA) using their length stretches 572km dredgers, had enabled the from Baro in Niger State Federal Government to down to Delta State, maximise cost and save cutting across eight states billions of naira. of the federation namely, He appealed to Ajaokuta Niger, Kogi, Anambra, community to cooperate Imo, Edo, Delta and with NIWA in its efforts Bayelsa, was completed to bring development to in 2012 according to the area. On his part, the the National Inland NIWA Managing Director, Waterways Authority Boss Mustapha, said the (NIWA). maintenance dredging
But even after the project was aimed at completion of the clearing about 523,000 dredging, only a handful metric tonnes of dredged of operators, majorly Nino materials to keep the Transport Company and water channel navigable West African Ceramics all year round. Company, Ajaokuta were He said West African utilizing the water ways. Ceremics Ltd and Nino
West Africa Ceramics Transport Company were Company which produces the two major companies tiles and other ceramic that have been utilizing materials in Ajaokuta, Kogi the dredged water State, has been ferrying channels and urged other its products from the operators to key in. Ajaokuta end to Onitsha He maintained through the barges that inland water provided on the dredged transportation has a water channels by Nino lot to contribute to the Transport Company. national economy and
However, due to the development, adding that 2012 flood which wreaked 28 out of the 36 states havoc across riverine of the federation can be states of the federation, accessed through water. most of the dredged "One thing is sure; the portion of the River Niger use and maintenance became silted while many of navigability of the of the navigational aids waterways is safer and earlier installed were much cheaper than the reportedly destroyed. use and maintenance of
Hence, when the new other modes of transport. Managing Director of Water transport is indeed the National Inland the most sustainable Waterways Authority mode of transportation (NIWA), Barr. Boss for the future," he said.