The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has unveiled plans to phase out unsafe boats, upgrade dilapidated infrastructure, and deepen collaboration with the private sector to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s inland waterways.
Shehu Shagari, chairman of the governing board of NIWA, made this known during a facility tour of NIWA projects and facilities in Lagos, alongside members of the Board, and Yusuf Gerie, managing director of NIWA, at the NIWA Lagos Area Office, Marina, recently.
Speaking during a media briefing at the event, Shagari stated that the visit was part of efforts to assess operations at the Lagos Area Office and identify areas requiring intervention to improve inland water transportation nationwide, noting that the board had directed that all deteriorating NIWA facilities across the country be identified for rehabilitation, and that new jetties would also be constructed to expand access to water transport.
“We have made provisions in our budget to address infrastructure challenges across our offices and jetties nationwide. We want all NIWA facilities to be functional, presentable, and capable of supporting efficient service delivery,” he said.
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