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The Acting Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Alhaji Umar Yusuf Girei, has visited two major ceramic manufacturing companies in Kogi State in a strategic move to deepen public–private partnerships and promote the use of inland waterways for industrial logistics.
The visit, which aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business by supporting manufacturers with cost-effective and efficient transportation of raw materials and finished goods through Nigeria’s inland waterways.
Girei first visited BNL Ceramics, where he was received by Mr. Zhang Xin, representing the company’s Managing Director. Zhang expressed the firm’s readiness to collaborate with NIWA, noting that improved waterways logistics would significantly enhance operational efficiency and market access.
Addressing the management, Girei said the engagement was designed to better understand the company’s operations and challenges, and to explore areas of partnership, particularly in leveraging waterways for bulk cargo movement.
“Our objective is to work with industries to reduce their logistics costs by shifting cargo from roads to waterways, which are safer, cheaper and more sustainable. This is part of our broader mandate to support economic growth and industrial competitiveness,” Girei said.
The NIWA team also visited West African Ceramics, where they were received by Mr. Emmanuel Oreye, representing the Managing Director. Girei reiterated NIWA’s commitment to ensuring that inland waterways remain navigable all year round to support manufacturers and exporters.
He noted that NIWA is strengthening channel management, safety infrastructure and security in order to position waterways as a reliable alternative for industrial transportation.
Responding, Oreye commended NIWA for the proactive engagement, saying the company already utilises waterways for transporting raw materials and is eager to expand its use for finished goods.
“Using inland waterways has significantly reduced our cost of production compared to road transport. It also helps us avoid traffic congestion, multiple checkpoints and damage to goods,” he said.
The visit underscores NIWA’s growing role in promoting multimodal transport solutions and improving supply chain efficiency for Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, particularly in resource-rich states like Kogi, which hosts some of the country’s largest ceramic producers.
Girei was accompanied by senior management officials of the Authority, including Muazu Dan’Azumi, General Manager, River Ports and Security; Engr. Dakio Horsfall, General Manager, Marine; Barr. Naziru Biyankare, General Manager, Legal; Engr. Fidelis Ejike, General Manager, Engineering; Engr. Muhammed Dangana, General Manager, Special Duties; Mr. Abubakar Danladi, Head of Finance; and DCP Shuaibu Audu, Commander, Inland Waterways Police Command.
According to the NIWA management team, the engagement is part of its broader strategy to attract private sector investment, decongest highways, lower logistics costs and position inland waterways as a key driver of Nigeria’s industrial and trade ecosystem.
