The National Inland Waterways Authority and the Bangladesh government have expressed commitment to exploring bilateral cooperation in inland water transportation, with emphasis on technical exchange, capacity building, infrastructure development and investment opportunities.
A statement by NIWA’s acting General Manager , Corporate Affairs,Tracy Kara, made available to newsmen in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Thursday stated that the commitment was expressed when the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Nigeria, Miah Mohammad Kabir, paid a courtesy visit to the Management of NIWA at its Liaison Office in Abuja on Thursday.
Receiving the delegation, the Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NIWA, Umar Girei, described the visit as an important opportunity to strengthen institutional relations between both countries agencies particularly in view of their similarities as riverine nations with enormous inland waterways potentials.
“Bangladesh has approximately 24,000 kilometres of waterways, which account for over 25 percent of its passenger transportation and facilitate the movement of millions of tonnes of cargo.
“Nigeria, on the other hand, has an estimated 10,000 kilometres of Inland Waterways with the River Niger and River Benue serving as major waterways, providing navigable access to about 28 of the country’s 36 states.” Girel noted.
He observed that Bangladesh’s experience in harnessing its waterways for transportation and economic development offers valuable lessons for Nigeria as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to unlock the economic potential of the Inland Waterways sector.
The NIWA Acting MD identified key areas of possible cooperation to include technical and knowledge exchange in dredging and channel maintenance and sustaining year-round navigability as well as the development and management of river ports, jetties and passenger ferry systems.
In his response, the Bangladesh High Commissioner noted that both Bangladesh and Nigeria have significant opportunities to benefit from mutually rewarding partnerships in the development of Inland Water transportation.
“His Excellency Miah Mohammad Mainul Kabir identified dredging, boat construction, marine equipment manufacturing and capacity building through training and retraining as critical areas where Bangladesh could share its experience and technical expertise with Nigeria,” the statement read.
Both parties expressed optimism that the courtesy visit would translate into concrete areas of cooperation and sustainable institutional partnerships capable of advancing Inland Water transportation and economic development in Nigeria and Bangladesh
Source: