By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola has said that the Ministry is determined to maximize the comparative advantages presented by maritime resources to improve Nigeria’s Balance of Trade.
Oyetola disclosed this at the unveiling of Inland Waterways Transportation Regulations, 2023 (Water Transportation Code) and Commissioning of Projects at the headquarters of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) on Tuesday in Lokoja.
The former Governor of Osun State said it was imperative to improve Nigeria’s Balance of Trade as it is very crucial to strengthening the value of the Naira, and creating employment which he revealed was top of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy agenda.
According to Minister, in view of the strategic role that the Maritime sector plays in actualizing this noble objective, the Ministry is determined to ensure maximization of the comparative advantages that the maritime resources present.
Oyetola described the Water Transportation Code as critical to the vision of the Ministry as it provides the opportunity to interface with the management and the staff of the Authority to further strengthen its activities and strategies for enhanced performance.
He commended the management of NIWA for the visionary intervention in ensuring that the Water Transportation Code came alive after several years in the pipeline.
“The Code, as you may be aware, will now guide the boat operators, regulate the conduct of passengers, as well as provide a framework for potential investors in water transportation.
“With the Code, I am convinced that we can now standardize water transportation, thereby reducing accidents on our waterways to the barest minimum. I must therefore urge NIWA to ensure the enforcement of the regulations”, he said.
The Minister who hinted that the NIWA Act would be out any time from now regretted that of the 10,000 kilometers of the nation’s waterways, only 3,800 kilometers were navigable.
He expressed the determination of the government to increase the navigable stretch by at least 2,000 kilometers more, saying that a holistic dredging of strategically important inland waterways for the passage of goods and people was desirable.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo represented by his Deputy, Joel Salifu Oyibo, described the recent development in NIWA as a new Dawn and pledged the continued support of the state government to the Authority.
The Governor said that his doors remained open as he urged the Management of NIWA not to hesitate to inform him whenever the support of the State Government is required.
Governor Ododo said that the recent development in newer were part of the sources stories of President Ahmed bola tinubu renewed hope agenda and place total commitment saying that Kogi would remain perpetually in support of Tinubu.
Speaking earlier, Mr Bola Oyebamiji, Managing Director of NIWA, recalled that since his assumption of office seven months ago, his administration had encountered challenges including three fatal boat mishaps among other water accidents and risks
“My administration will also embark on enlightenment campaign on marine transportation policies and programmes, regulate conduct of passengers and workings of water transportation”, Oyebamiji said.
The NIWA Chief Executive Officer said the Authority under him was primed for success as he implored the Minister to support NIWA to benefit maximally from the Cabottage Fund.
Apart from the inauguration of the Water Transportation Code, the Minister also commissioned an Administrative Block Staff Clinic, Reception building, Police building and Fire fighting equipment.
Others are 15 hydrophobic survey boats of varying capacities for surveillance, one gun patrol boat, one 63-seater passenger ferry, three fully equipped water ambulances and a jetty. (Ends)