The maritime agencies in the country have come together, to provide security and safety on waterways, to improve water transportation, through adequate collaboration and synergy.
Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Dr. George Moghalu, revealed this information at the closure of the Third Monthly Meeting of Chief Executives of Maritime Agencies in Lokoja.
Moghalu said: “This is our routine meeting which from the point when we started, is aimed at building synergy by coming together, taking our policies together, to see how we can work together for the benefit of our nation, Nigeria.’’
According to Moghalu, the CEO’s at the meeting constituted a committee on the multimodal approach to cargo delivery, in order to better seaport and dry port operations.
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He said: “We are looking at what we can do to harmonise the operations of all maritime agencies in the country to better the maritime industry, especially in the area of movement of cargo between the waterports.’’
The MD noted that effective water transportation is a necessity, in order to improve the economy, by reducing congestion at ports as well as the haulage of heavy-duty goods through the roads.
When asked about the frequent capsizing of boats and mishaps on the Waterways and safety measures, he said the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), had prepared a “World-class safety and security conference”, for Nigeria.
“The Safety issue is not peculiar to our Waterways, we also have security challenges on land but the important thing is that government is conscious of this fact.
“Agencies of government are also conscious of this fact. Gunboats have been acquired, NIMASA is also doing a lot in that direction.’’
