The Nigerian Navy on Thursday urged stakeholders using heavy-duty trucks to consider using inland waterways for transporting their goods.
It said this would reduce unnecessary pressure on road infrastructure, provide more job opportunities, boost tourism potential, increase economic viability and boost income of the country.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Auwal Gambo, who stated this in Abuja, said transporting heavy goods through maritime domains had become so cheap and easy following the unveiling of the Navigational Chart of the Lower River Niger as parts of the efforts towards the development of inland waterways in Nigeria.
“It would also reduce pressure on road infrastructure, as bulk cargos would be transported through the channel.
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“Furthermore, successful opening of this River Channel for navigation will accelerate activation of concessioned inland ports and export processing zones for handling bulk cargoes from coastal areas and export of solid minerals as well as agricultural produce.
Daily Trust reports that the navigational chart was carried out by the hydrographic unit of the navy in collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority.
The project was funded by the Nigeria Export Import (NEXIM) Bank and the African Export Import (AFREXIM) Bank with the collaboration of Sealink Consortium.
The Naval Chief said the joint hydrographic survey campaign was flagged-off on Nov. 24, 2021 covering Phases 1 and 2.
Gambo said the project, which extended from Lokoja in Kogi State to Burutu in Delta State, was one of a series of initiatives undertaken by the federal government toward actualising economic diversification.
President, Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah, said the bank provided a grant $350,000 for the execution of the project because of the critical role that navigability of the River Niger would play in the country’s trade facilitation and indeed overall developmental aspirations.
