The National Assembly has applauded the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority, (NIWA) describing it as a self-reliant government parastatal.
The lawmakers said this at the 2nd NIWA international conference and exhibition which held in Lagos.
Speaking during the event, the Chairman Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Sani Yerima said that the passage of NIWA bill by the Senate in May has shown the effort of the National Assembly towards the development of inland waterways transportation system.
He said that the new Bill can guarantee NIWA to achieve its potentials as a public enterprise that can fend for itself.
“I am sure that the bill can enjoy concurrence of the House of Representative. This makes it clear that NIWA of today is in good shape, with prosperous institutional and legal framework to achieve the type of development on the waterways that we see in Europe, America and other regions of the world”, he said.
Senator Yerima, also used the opportunity to call on other well-meaning investors to take the advantage of the investment opportunities that abound in the waterways sector.
Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman House Committee on Ports, Harbour and Inland Waterways; Pat Asadu, commended the management of NIWA under Mr. Boss Mustspha for displaying the real change Nigeria requires in managing its public institutions.
He maintained that the NIWA boss has transformed NIWA from the usual behaviour of running to the government to seek for funds to an era of making contributions to the government treasury through increase in revenue generation.
“This implies that NIWA is poised to attract investment, develop infrastructure, diversify its services and most of all to bring back the past glory and significance of inland waterways transportation and waterfront ventures as a major contributor to Nigeria’s GDP. It is apparently clear that NIWA is becoming an important engine room for domestic trade, mobility of good services and passengers in Nigeria”, he concluded.
“This implies that NIWA is poised to attract investment, develop infrastructure, diversify its services and most of all to bring back the past glory and significance of inland waterways transportation and waterfront ventures as a major contributor to Nigeria’s GDP. It is apparently clear that NIWA is becoming an important engine room for domestic trade, mobility of good services and passengers in Nigeria”, he concluded.
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