NIWA woos banks, insurers for water transport development

The National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA is wooing the banking and financial sector to key into efforts at development of water transport infrastructure.

Disclosing this to Vanguard in Lagos, Managing Director of NIWA, Maryam Chiroma, said the Authority is desirous improving the sector to attract Nigerian to water transportation.

Chiroma explained that NIWA has concluded plans to bring operators in the financial sector to meet with their counterpart in the water transport industry in August.

The event which is expected to hold in Lagos according to the NIWA boss will also

bring together other operators from relevant sectors to rob minds on the way forward for water transport.

She noted that the event which is a three day Conference and Exhibition being put together in conjunction with a private firm Flintxposure has the theme, “Moderning Inland Water Infrastructure and Vessels for Safe and Sustainable Inland Water Transportation in Nigeria.”

She said the event tagged “NIWA – I.C.E would help expose and capture the full strength of local maritime player, the level of foreign content and the financial outlay to major stakeholders including government.

Similarly, Managing Director of Flintxposure, Oti Ukpai, said stakeholders have already adjudged the event as an idea that has come at the right time in actualizing efforts to place and repackage the movement of goods and services on water to aid trade and investment across the nation’s waterways.

According to him, “We wish to possibly surpass the inherent and obvious gains of Nigeria’s very lucrative waterways, and showcase it not only to Nigerians but to foreigners alike. However, we have decided that even though stakeholders need to talk and evaluate our vest waterways content, they would also have verifiable to see and meet the real players.”

He further disclosed that five companies, Tarzan Marine Ltd., Driller Engineering Nigeria Ltd., Japaul Oil and Marine Ltd., EAL Nigeria Ltd. and Glassand Group have already booked their participation for the event. Amongst those expected at the event Okpai pointed out are, federal and states governments, river transport companies, oil prospecting companies, oil and gas supporting companies, dredging companies, shore based businesses, commercial and sand mining companies, among others.

Vanguard