The News DietThe News Diet
    What's Hot

    Davido’s Wife Gifts N10m To Ilebaye ‘BBNaija All-Stars Winner’

    October 3, 2023

    Labour Strike: Details Of MOU Between FG And TUC, NLC

    October 3, 2023

    CBN Approves New Names, Operational Changes For Commercial Banks

    October 3, 2023

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest efficient and accurately analysed news from The News Diet.

    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Tuesday, October 3
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    The News DietThe News Diet
    • Home
    • News
    • Editorial
      • The Verdict
      • Interviews
      • Special Report
    • Maritime

      Maritime Workers Suspend Indefinite Strike In Solidarity With NLC, TUC

      October 3, 2023

      NIMASA Emerges Best Federal Agency On Digital Transformation

      September 28, 2023

      FG Shops For Bashir Jamoh’s Replacement As NIMASA DG

      September 25, 2023

      Women In Maritime Seek Legislation, Incentives To Curb Plastics Pollution

      September 21, 2023

      WIMA-Nigeria Tasks Blue Economy Ministry To Address Multiple Charges, EoDB

      September 21, 2023
    • Business
    • Politics

      Chicago State Varsity Releases Tinubu’s Records To Atiku

      October 3, 2023

      LP, Obi Couldn’t Prove Tinubu’s Conviction In US – Tribunal

      September 6, 2023

      NNPP Suspends Kwankwaso Over Anti-Party Activities, Aniebonam Resigns

      August 29, 2023

      APC Vice Chairman Lukman Resigns Over Illegalities, Interference

      July 26, 2023

      Tinubu Suspends Buhari’s 11th Hour Tax Changes

      July 7, 2023
    • Sports

      AIU Clears Amusan To Participate At World Championships

      August 18, 2023

      Chelsea Agree £23.2m Deal For French/Nigerian Teenage Midfielder ‘Ugochukwu’

      July 30, 2023

      Security Agencies To Commence Sports, CSR Projects At Zongo Community

      June 17, 2023

      Osimhen Leads Napoli To First Serie A Title In 33 Years

      May 5, 2023

      Iwobi Rescues Point For Toffees, Ends 7-month Goal Drought

      May 2, 2023
    • Photo Diet

      2023: ANLCA, APFFLON Presidents Ponder Headway For Freight Forwarding Sector

      January 13, 2023

      Sambo, Lai Mohammed Discuss National Issues At Transport Ministry Headquarters

      November 1, 2022

      Sambo Felicitates With NIMASA DG ‘Jamoh’ On OFR Honours

      October 12, 2022

      St Augustine’s Anglican Church Youths Visit Lagos Ports Complex

      September 15, 2022

      NCAC Presents Partnership-That-Works Award To Governor Sanwo-Olu

      July 14, 2022
    • Lifestyle

      Mohbad’s Death: Valuable Lessons For Young Nigerians

      September 23, 2023

      Marital Bliss: NIWA Celebrates As Engr. Ororo’s Daughter ‘Tare’ Weds ‘Anderson’

      July 4, 2023

      Ezeobi Wins Peak Performing Woman of the Year Award

      July 4, 2023

      OMIS Awards Labeled Africa’s Maritime Oscars

      September 26, 2022

      NATOP, NCAC Deepen Collobaration To Develop Tourism Sector

      September 23, 2022
    • Contact
    The News DietThe News Diet
    Home » Experts Identify Problems, Proffer Solutions To Optimize Inland Waterways Transport
    Maritime

    Experts Identify Problems, Proffer Solutions To Optimize Inland Waterways Transport

    Kenneth JukporBy Kenneth JukporAugust 5, 2022Updated:August 5, 2022No Comments152 Views
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
    Experts Identify Problems, Proffer Solutions To Optimize Inland Waterways Transport
    R-L: Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC), Hon. Emmanuel Jime; Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Dr. George Moghalu; Member, House Committee on Inland Waterways, Hon. Babatunde Hunpe; former President, CILT Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Jibril; CEO, Ocean Serve Logistics and Lelook Nigeria, Mrs. Chinwe Ezenwa; General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Planning, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Elisha Usoro; Managing Director/CEO, Joatelim Logistics Limited, Mr. Joseph Akolo; and the Chairman Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Lawali Hassan Anka; during the maiden edition of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Maritime Mode Workshop, which held in Lagos, yesterday.
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    …as fiscal, infrastructure and policy issues bedevil waterways transport

    Amid the nation’s plan to boost socio-economic development via inland waterways transport, maritime experts have identified core challenges in the sector to include; policy issues, substandard barges and boats, inadequate equipment at jetties, high costs of operations, among others.

    These problems as well as some possible solutions were explored at the maiden edition of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Maritime Mode Workshop which held in Lagos, yesterday.

    In his goodwill message, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Climate Change and Ecology, Senator Lawali Hassan Anka, pointed out that inland waterways transport has a relatively low air and noise emissions per tonne, when compared to other transport modes.

    At the event themed; “Optimization of Inland Waterways Transport in Nigeria,” Anka stressed that the development of waterways can have adverse environmental impacts on water quality, biodiversity, landscape and the recreational value of water bodies.

    “From an environmental point of view, inland navigation can contribute to making transport more sustainable, particularly where it substitutes for road transport.I want to draw our attention to the importance of engendering resistance to waterway investments to improve water quality or biodiversity and create valuable habitats.”

    “Waterborne traffic remains an environmentally preferable mode compared to road or rail haulage. Expansion and development of waterways can have significant environmental impacts, mitigate or compensate for damage. It is equally important to recognise that Dredging sometimes has severe impacts, especially when sediments are contaminated with industrial discharges,” he said.

    Experts Identify Problems, Proffer Solutions To Optimize Inland Waterways Transport
    R-L: The immediate-past President of CILT Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Jibril presenting a plaque to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Climate Change and Ecology, Senator Lawali Hassan Anka.

    The Executive Secretary of Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hon. Emmanuel Jime highlighted major problems limiting the nation’s waterway transport sector to include faulty barges and boats, proliferation of jetties, inadequate handling equipment, high cost of operations, among others.

    Jime asserted that the culmination of these challenges denied the nation optimum socio-economic benefits of a viable inland waterway transport, even as he expressed worry that the industry hasn’t come to terms with the role of NSC as port economic regulator.

    He opined that with adequate synergy between the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Shippers’ Council, issues affecting costs and standards will be streamlined.

    “NSC is involved in economic regulation of the sector but the challenge is that the industry hasn’t really come to terms with this reality that there’s indeed an agency responsible for regulating commercial activities. There is no way an operator could regulate or discuss issues around charges and costs without having an input from NSC. We have been engaging the barge operators and they are aware of the Council’s role in their operations in terms of standardization and costs. NSC shouldn’t be engaging the barge operators alone, we should be working closely with NIWA which is the agency with the direct mandate to regulate inland waterways,” the NSC boss said.

    He reiterated that the agencies of government under the Ministry of Transportation have resolved to engage frequently to resolve issues and plan holistically for the transport development in the country.

    Also speaking, the immediate-past President of CILT Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Jibril described the National Transport Policy as a crucial document that could transform the nation’s inland waterway sector and the entire transport system, but lamented that it hasn’t been assented.

    Jibril expressed worry that the document which was developed more than five years ago may have become obsolete and in need of adjustments to ensure the policy comes out as a relevant updated document.

    Experts Identify Problems, Proffer Solutions To Optimize Inland Waterways Transport
    Guests pose for a group photograph at the CILT workshop.

    “Are the components of that National Transport Policy draft not stale by now? I understand that at some point it had to go to the Ministry of Works for some input and I agree on this. However, I am also aware that the document was left at the Ministry of Works for so long and the Transport Ministry couldn’t do anything about it because it was sent there by the presidency. The issue is that the process has taken so long and we need to look at the document to ensure it is still relevant to the nation’s transport needs today,” Jibril said.

    He also expressed concern on the available of skilled personnel for the various aspects of inland waterways operations, adding that officials responsible for training and certification must do more to improve the manpower in the sector.

    Jibril called for an industry audit of the infrastructure such as boat building yards, jetties, watercrafts and skillsets to know where there are shortcomings and the efforts required to attain global best standards.

    In her response, the Chairperson of Zoe Maritime Resources and Covener of the annual Lagos International Maritime Week, Mrs. Oritsematosan Edodo-Emore pointed out that an updated version of the National Transport Policy was reworked and concluded in 2021.

    “I want to put out additional information concerning the National Transport Policy. I am part of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for the formulation of National Transport Policy for Nigeria. We worked on the policy and submitted it last year (2021). The document is currently with the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and it’s a recent one. It’s not the same one that was concluded 5 years ago because we submitted it last year. As soon as FEC approves it, it will be a working document for Nigeria,” she said.

    Earlier, the Managing Director of NIWA, Dr. George Moghalu had identified overcrowded boats, substandard and expired life-jackets as well as inland waterways travel by night and early hours as responsible for most of the boat mishaps in the nation.

    Moghalu also expressed dissatisfaction at the speedy reports of unverified casualties from boat accidents noting that one life was lost in the recent Niger State boat mishap contrary to earlier media reports that 50 persons died.

    The NIWA boss also revealed that the agency has begun installation of cameras on shorelines to monitor inland waterways activities even as it intends to have a Command Control centre for surveillance.

    Moghalu maintained that inland waterways transport remains the cheapest and safest transport mode for carriage of cargoes and expressed optimism that the challenges bedeviling the sector could be surmounted.

    Experts Identify Problems, Proffer Solutions To Optimize Inland Waterways Transport

    L-R: The Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Dr. George Moghalu receiving a plaque from the former President, CILT Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Jibril.

    Worried by the territorial conflicts between NIWA and tahw Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), the President of Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria, Mrs. Eunice Ezeoke advised NIWA and LASWA to shelve their differences and focus on addressing operational issues in the sector.

    Ezeoke also encouraged the inland waterway regulators to deepen efforts to curb night travel on waterways as most accidents occur at night.

    In his welcome remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and Chairman of the House Committee on Waterways, Hon. Patrick Asadu observed that the nation has gotten to a point where it could no longer neglect or ignore the potential of inland waterways transportation.

    Asadu, who was represented by Hon. Babatunde Hunpe, described inland waterways transport as a major catalyst for social and economic integration, commerce, agriculture, human capacity development and lower emissions.

    “Nigeria’s inland waterways have the capacity to transform our economy. employ youth, revive local industries, promote trade and reduce the burden on the roads nationwide. However, this will require deliberate efforts by way of policies, investments and standardized operations in tandem with global best practices,” he said.

    While welcoming guests to the workshop, the President of CILT Nigeria, Barr. (Mrs.) Mfon Usoro compared inland waterways to the road sector, even as she noted that more regulations have been meted out to attain standard roads and roadworthiness for vehicles.

    “If we can visualize the inland waterways as motorways of the seas, most of our problems would be solved. We can visualize the road transport sector and the motorways, vehicles and all the infrastructure that have been established to make motorways safe, motorable and attractive. We can transpose that to the waterways and this simply means that we must provide all the infrastructure and policies to make waterways attractive and commercially viable so that merchants will choose to use the waterways,” she said.

    Usoro opined that legislations may not be able to compel consignees and passengers to patronize the waterways instead of roads, but assured that an attractive system that guarantees safety will lead to more investments and patronage for the sector.

    Some maritime bigwigs who graced the occasion and provided quality submissions, include; the Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Serve and Lelook Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Chinwe Ezenwa; the Chairman, Ports Consultative Council, Otunba Kunle Folarin; Pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Tai Solarin University of Education, Prof. Kayode Oyesiku; Director, Centre for Multi-Modal Transport Studies, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Iyiola Oni; President of WIMA-Nigeria, Mrs. Rollens Macfoy; Chairman of YoungShip Nigeria, Mr. Popoola-Taiwo Shehu; among others.

    The event was aptly organized by the Maritime Mode of CILT Nigeria chaired by Mr. Usman Shuaibu, while the Chairperson of the Programme Planning Committee was Mrs. Margaret Ogbonnah.

    Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Inland Waterways Transport National Inland Waterways Authority Nigerian Shippers' Council
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Telegram Email

    Related Posts

    Maritime Workers Suspend Indefinite Strike In Solidarity With NLC, TUC

    October 3, 2023

    NIMASA Emerges Best Federal Agency On Digital Transformation

    September 28, 2023

    FG Shops For Bashir Jamoh’s Replacement As NIMASA DG

    September 25, 2023

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Latest Post
    Entertainment

    Davido’s Wife Gifts N10m To Ilebaye ‘BBNaija All-Stars Winner’

    October 3, 2023

    By Alex Onovo The winner of the just-concluded Big Brother Naija Season 8, All Stars…

    Labour Strike: Details Of MOU Between FG And TUC, NLC

    October 3, 2023

    CBN Approves New Names, Operational Changes For Commercial Banks

    October 3, 2023

    Chicago State Varsity Releases Tinubu’s Records To Atiku

    October 3, 2023

    Maritime Workers Suspend Indefinite Strike In Solidarity With NLC, TUC

    October 3, 2023

    Moniepoint, Nithub UNILAG Boost Nigeria’s Tech Talent Development

    October 2, 2023

    Editorial Picks

    Maritime Workers Suspend Indefinite Strike In Solidarity With NLC, TUC

    October 3, 2023

    NIMASA Emerges Best Federal Agency On Digital Transformation

    September 28, 2023

    FG Shops For Bashir Jamoh’s Replacement As NIMASA DG

    September 25, 2023

    Mohbad’s Death: Valuable Lessons For Young Nigerians

    September 23, 2023

    Subscribe to News

    Get the latest efficient and accurately analysed news from The News Diet.

    Advertisement
    Demo
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    Latest Post
    Entertainment

    Davido’s Wife Gifts N10m To Ilebaye ‘BBNaija All-Stars Winner’

    October 3, 2023

    By Alex Onovo The winner of the just-concluded Big Brother Naija Season 8, All Stars…

    Labour Strike: Details Of MOU Between FG And TUC, NLC

    October 3, 2023

    CBN Approves New Names, Operational Changes For Commercial Banks

    October 3, 2023

    Chicago State Varsity Releases Tinubu’s Records To Atiku

    October 3, 2023

    Maritime Workers Suspend Indefinite Strike In Solidarity With NLC, TUC

    October 3, 2023

    Moniepoint, Nithub UNILAG Boost Nigeria’s Tech Talent Development

    October 2, 2023

    About Us:

    The News Diet is a credible newsblog managed by JUKKEN Consults Limited, a media organization and public relations consulting outfit.

    JUKKEN Consults is also focused on Brand Management, Media Buying, Print Production, etc. The outfit has an impressive track-record of executing media campaigns and projects for high profile clients across various sectors of Nigeria’s economy.

    We also operate a waste recycling/ eco-promotional company, Golden Debris.

    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest YouTube
    Top Insights

    Davido’s Wife Gifts N10m To Ilebaye ‘BBNaija All-Stars Winner’

    October 3, 2023

    Labour Strike: Details Of MOU Between FG And TUC, NLC

    October 3, 2023

    CBN Approves New Names, Operational Changes For Commercial Banks

    October 3, 2023

    Chicago State Varsity Releases Tinubu’s Records To Atiku

    October 3, 2023
    Get Informed

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest efficient and accurately analysed news from The News Diet.

    © 2023 All right reserved. The News Diet.
    • Home

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.