By Obansa Ibrahim, Lokoja
The Minister for Marine and Blue economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola has ordered the National Inland Waterways to start the implementation of the newly developed Marine code to enhance and improve security and safety along the nation’s waterways.
The Minister stated this on Tuesday while commissioning some legacy projects developed by the management of the National Inland Waterways, NIWA headquarters in Lokoja.
Among the projects commissioned are Administrative block, security post, 62 seater Passanger boat, Ambulance and hydrographic survey boat
“I want to call on the management of this all important sector to start the immediate implementation of the newly developed marine code in order to address all the security challenges along the nation’s waterways”.he said.
According to him,the NIWA act waiting to be passed would soon become a reality adding that the Marine code would be useful in tacking the security challenges pending the time the bill would be passed.
He said that only 3,000 out of the 10,000 kilometers waterways in the country are navigable adding that the Marine code would come handy in addressing the underutilization of the enormous potentials in the sector.
The Minister also called on private sector to consider exploring the potential business opportunities which are available in the nation’s waterways in line with the vision of President Tinubu which placed so much emphasis on the blue economy.
Earlier,the managing Director if the National Inland Waterways, (NIWA),Bola Oyebamiji called on fellow staff and management of the organization to always come up with ideas that would help to propel NIWA to achieve it’s economic potential in line with the vision of Mr President.
“My doors are always open, to welcome ideas and suggestions that would help in assisting NIWA to realise the vision of Mr President, who believes that there are enormous economic potentials in the Marine sector.”