From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji, has said 28 out of 36 states in Nigeria are navigable to enhance water transportation.
He said efforts would be made to explore the opportunity to make use of waterways to ease the pressure posed by an increase in the price of fuel.
Oyebamiji spoke with journalists at Ilesa, Osun State, at the weekend, during the burial ceremony of Mrs Beatrice Modupe Akinola, mother of Charles Akinola, Chief of Staff to former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.
Oyebamiji who noted that there are a lot of opportunities in the water section, promised to maximize the potential for the benefit of the country.
“I don’t think there will be much problem. We have worked previously in such a sector. There are problems in our waterways but I can assure you that we are going to work relentlessly to make sure we solve all those problems.
“Certainly, in this period of high cost of transportation, we are exploring waterways as a means of transportation. 28 out of 36 states if properly handled, are navigable to enhance our water transportation. You can rest assured that we are going to work on that and make use of our waterways.
“We will ensure that our waterways are efficiently managed so that we can add value to our GDP. We are going to maximize the opportunity of our waterways.
“Apart from transportation, there are a lot of benefits in our water systems that we can tap into. We are going to ensure that we add value to our waterways.
“The economic reforms introduced by the president are the best, Nigerians have forgotten that the challenges have existed in the country for a very long time. Since we took over from the British, we have not gotten our economic policy right, this is the only time that we have gotten our economic policy right.
“If you look back, we have a lot of challenges and to correct them, it will take time. The suffering might be big now but I am very sure that our people will laugh last,” Oyebamiji said.
One of the children of the deceased, Dr Charles Akinola, said the late Akinola was a teacher who taught many national leaders, like General Yakubu Gowon, Professor Isaiah Audu, Professor Mike Beiki, Uncle Mike Angulu, and she represents solid positivity which has become a value for the family.