At a time when United States of America, USA and other developed nations are reaping from transporting their produce through their developed waterways, the nation is losing over 45 percent of it produce to lack of development of water transport mode.
 |
| Managing Director, NIWA, Boss Mustapha |
Stakeholders at a one day conference and exhibition in Lagos yesterday decried the damage of over 45 percent of crops from farm lands across the country due to lack of transport connectivity.
They also charged the federal government to improve the different modes of transport to enhance trade across the country and the sub-region.
Stakeholders who made this known at the 10th Nigeria International Maritime Ports and Terminal Conference and Expo, NIMPORT, noted that while 38 states in the US transport over 60 percent of its produces worth over $73 billion annually through its waterways, the nation needs to improve on the loss of over 45 percent of it produce for lack of development of that mode of transportation.
Thay also noted that the neglect of the sector is not only affecting trade in the country but is the main reason for rural-urban draft by the nation’s youth.
Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, Boss Mustapha, said Nigeria needs to emulate the developed countries, especially the United States of America, USA where 38 states move over 60 percent of its input worth about $73 billion, through its inland waterways.
To this end, the NIWA boss who was represented by the Lagos Area Manager, Muazo Sambo, said it is the importance of inland transportation that is driving the Authority’s effort to continually carry out maintenance dredging of the channels to open up the waterways across the country.
He explained that 28 states of the federation out of the 36 can be assessed by the inland waterways and its development would help ease the dependence on road transport in the country.
He also noted that the water transport mode is the least developed amongst the other modes and stressed the determination of NIWA to ensure the development because it is not only a cheaper means of transportation but is also capable of carrying more tonnage.
Chairman of NIMPORT,
Fortune Idu, said well developed transport connectivity would increase speedy
delivery of produce and reduce the cost of the final goods as it has been said
that over 45 percent of production cost in Africa is attributed to
transportation and close to 50 percent of produce value is lost due to poor
logistics connectivity.
 |
| Chairman of NIMPORT, Fortune Idu |
According to Idu, “there
is need to focus on improve cargo flow and connectivity between the ports and
our manufacturing and commercial centers of our cities.”
He pointed out that this
year’s conference is focusing on improving trade flow, total logistics
connectivity, development of industrial terminals and logistics hub, improving
cargo traffic, enabling Nigerian goods to find regional and international
markets and removing trade blockages.
Similarly, a Professor in
the Institute of maritime Studies, University of Lagos, Olusoji Ilori,
expressed happiness about the development by the management of NIWA, stressing
the need for a shift to use of water transport as against the present
dependence on road transportation.
 |
| Chairman Board of Institute of Maritime Studies, UNILAG, Prof. Olusoji Ilori |
He sighted that case of
the waterfront at the university which can be used by the institution’s
community to cross to neighbouring towns in Ikorodu but regretted the fact that
they had to spend several hours daily by road to get to work.
No comments:
Post a Comment