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River Niger Goes On Sale

NIWA markets newly dredged Nigeria’s major river at international conference, exhibition
For three days next month, Eko Ho­tels and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos, would be agog. Between August 12 and 14, the place will be playing hosts to some august guests from across the world.
Top government officials from within and outside the country, decision makers and top players in the maritime sector, community leaders, representatives of regulatory authorities, financial institutions, oil-prospecting companies, commercial sand-mining firms, dredging companies, operators of hotels, dockyards, restaurants yacht yards, journalists and indeed, major stakeholders in the water transportation sector would converge on the venue. Many will come from outside the country for the three-day event, an international conference and exhibition organised by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).
The event, the reporter gathered, is the first of such to be organised by NIWA. The theme is Modernising Inland Water Infrastructure and Vessels for Safe and Sustainable Inland Water Transportation in Nigeria.
NIWA’s Managing Director, Hajiya Maryam Inna Ciroma, explained that the international conference would provide a platform for dialogue among different groups and stakeholders that are involved directly and indirectly in the nation’s inland waterways for the benefit of the economy.
Said she: “The international conference and exhibition has been created, as an opportunity to gain knowledge on the vast economic opportunities available on our waterways. It is a conference for dialogue of the different groups and stakeholders involved in the sustainability, safety and utilisation of our inland waterways for the benefit of the economy and for tourism.
“The conference theme seeks to unveil government programmes, plans and policies, networking and organisational relationships for the different categories in the inland waterways sector.”
It would also be an avenue to showcase the capacities of the new River Niger, the dredging of which the federal government has so far expended about N3 billion on.
“It is right for us to bring this knowledge to everybody and we thought that the best way to go about it is to hold an international conference and exhibition where we will exhibit what the dredged River Nigeria potentially has for the growth of the Nigerian economy. We need everybody to know that there is good business for anybody who wants to invest in our inland waterways,” she added.
Several stakeholders have argued that the country has one of the biggest maritime potentials in the world, but regretted that such treasure trove had been largely abandoned over the years. Yet the nation’s inland waterways, if well exploited, have the potentials to solve key developmental issues in the country and provide soft landing for global investors. And since the essence of the conference is to showcase the potentials of movement of goods and services on water in the country, and promote investments and trade through Nigeria’s inland waterways, not a few are those applauding the initiative by NIWA, saying the concept could not have come at a better time.
Mr. Oti Ukpai, managing director of Flintxposture, the firm coordinating the event, said the NIWA-ICE, as the three-day event is designated, would “help expose and capture the full strength of local maritime players, the level of foreign content and the full financial outlay to major stakeholders, including government.”
He explained further: “We wish to possibly surpass the inherent and obvious gains of Nigeria’s very lucrative waterways, and showcase it not only to Nigerians but to foreigners alike. And stakeholders would have opportunities to meet the real players.”
Ukpai described the initiative as another World Economic Forum that would give practical bent to the full exploitation of Nigeria’s waterways.
“The vision is to introduce sustainability efforts, grow new towns and flourish the local people and the economy. It is a win-win situation for Nigeria, foreign investors, shipping companies and financial institutions. Even players and stakeholders in security businesses are expected to come and share with others how they can contribute to the safety of shipping and maritime business. Nigeria’s tourism will be given another frontier because the waterways will benefit boat cruise and many private inter-state waterways transportation operators. It is a full-team effort, and we are not afraid to try to give the economy another significant window and show the world what President Goodluck Jonathan has done in this area and all the benefits therein,” Ukpai explained.
The reporter gathered that a number of companies and groups, including Glossands, Drillex, Japaul, EAL and Tarzan Maritime Ltd, have signified their intention to be part of the programme.
Besides the conference and exhibition, the event would also feature seminars, meetings, networking cocktail, gala dinner, boat cruise, sponsors appreciation dinner and award night.
The organisers said a website, www.niwa-ice.com was opened for the event, adding that interested sponsors and participants should visit the site.
Source:sunnewsonline.com

About Author Mohamed Abu 'l-Gharaniq

when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries.

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