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| R-L: Barrister Danladi Ibrahim, the Acting Managing Director, NIWA; Mr Femi Ajishafe, General Manager, Research, Planning and Environment and Mr Mu’Azu Sambo, Lagos Area Manager, NIWA at the news conference in Lagos. |
The National
Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) on Thursday said it would henceforth
collaborate with the riverine states to maintain efficient inland waterways
services in the country.
Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) on Thursday said it would henceforth
collaborate with the riverine states to maintain efficient inland waterways
services in the country.
The Acting
Managing Director of NIWA, Barrister Danladi Ibrahim, stated this at a news
conference which held at the Authority’s Lagos office along the outer Marina, Lagos Island.
Managing Director of NIWA, Barrister Danladi Ibrahim, stated this at a news
conference which held at the Authority’s Lagos office along the outer Marina, Lagos Island.
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| NIWA Jetty at CMS |
The managing
director said that the initiative to collaborate with state governments for
better efficiency would further boost the status and operations of the inland
waterways to standards obtainable internationally.
director said that the initiative to collaborate with state governments for
better efficiency would further boost the status and operations of the inland
waterways to standards obtainable internationally.
In his
words: “As it relates to the conflict between NIWA and state governments, not
only Lagos State, we have this issue with several other states, Rivers,
Bayelsa, and most of the riverine states. Actually, this conflict has really
affected development of inland waterways greatly.
words: “As it relates to the conflict between NIWA and state governments, not
only Lagos State, we have this issue with several other states, Rivers,
Bayelsa, and most of the riverine states. Actually, this conflict has really
affected development of inland waterways greatly.
“What we intend
to do this time around, is to collaborate with these states. Any moment from
now, we will be visiting all the states governors that we have issues with and
collaborate.
to do this time around, is to collaborate with these states. Any moment from
now, we will be visiting all the states governors that we have issues with and
collaborate.
“We believe
that by collaborating, this issue will be resolved and inland waterways will be
better for it, instead of legal tussles and conflicts. I don’t see any reason
why state and federal government cannot collaborate to develop the economy,”
Ibrahim said.
that by collaborating, this issue will be resolved and inland waterways will be
better for it, instead of legal tussles and conflicts. I don’t see any reason
why state and federal government cannot collaborate to develop the economy,”
Ibrahim said.
Speaking on the
issue of monitoring operators to ensure safety standards by checkmating the
challenges of over-crowing and over-speeding, the managing director said the
issue would be addressed with the gazette of a code of operation.
issue of monitoring operators to ensure safety standards by checkmating the
challenges of over-crowing and over-speeding, the managing director said the
issue would be addressed with the gazette of a code of operation.
“As I
speak to you, we have a transportation code waiting to be gazette. This code is
to regulate traffic on the waterways. All these years we have not had a code to
regulate inland waterways traffic.
speak to you, we have a transportation code waiting to be gazette. This code is
to regulate traffic on the waterways. All these years we have not had a code to
regulate inland waterways traffic.
“As soon
as it is gazette, all these issues of over-loading, over-speeding, will be
solved. We will ensure that this code is strictly enforced and I believe that
will address the issue of over-loading and over-speeding on the waterways.”
as it is gazette, all these issues of over-loading, over-speeding, will be
solved. We will ensure that this code is strictly enforced and I believe that
will address the issue of over-loading and over-speeding on the waterways.”
He also disclosed
that NIWA would in the nearest future modernise the infrastructure at its Lagos
Area Office with a proposed multi-purpose edifice to provide world-class
service and comfort, even with an inter-modal provision.
that NIWA would in the nearest future modernise the infrastructure at its Lagos
Area Office with a proposed multi-purpose edifice to provide world-class
service and comfort, even with an inter-modal provision.
“We intend to
have a 45 –story office tower here and in it, we will have about five floors of
super shopping malls and 10 floors of car parks attached to it, because it is a
kind of inter-modal transportation system, we will have a train station that
will link this edifice.
have a 45 –story office tower here and in it, we will have about five floors of
super shopping malls and 10 floors of car parks attached to it, because it is a
kind of inter-modal transportation system, we will have a train station that
will link this edifice.
“The government
intends to have a metro station here and there will also be a modern jetty.
This will be in partnership with a company in Dubai on a Public Private
Partnership arrangement,” he said.
intends to have a metro station here and there will also be a modern jetty.
This will be in partnership with a company in Dubai on a Public Private
Partnership arrangement,” he said.
According to the
managing director, jobs will be created in the sub-sector as NIWA plans to
encourage private sector investments in deploying Hover crafts and Hover barges
that can be used to transport travelers and even consignments bearing whatever
tough terrains.
managing director, jobs will be created in the sub-sector as NIWA plans to
encourage private sector investments in deploying Hover crafts and Hover barges
that can be used to transport travelers and even consignments bearing whatever
tough terrains.
He also noted
that if a Bill it had pushed to the National Assembly is passed into law, NIWA
would become financially buoyant.
that if a Bill it had pushed to the National Assembly is passed into law, NIWA
would become financially buoyant.
The managing
director said if that happened then NIWA would be done with its funding
challenges.
director said if that happened then NIWA would be done with its funding
challenges.
