BREAKING: Adequate budget for water transport crucial to safe, significant development — NIWA MD

The Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, FCIB, has emphasised the need for adequate budgetary allocation to the water transportation sub-sector, stating that it is crucial for the sector’s growth and ensuring safe transportation for all Nigerians.

Speaking before the joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Inland Waterways at the National Assembly complex, Oyebamiji defended NIWA’s proposed budget for the 2025 fiscal year.

He outlined the agency’s ambitious revenue outlook, attributing it to expected increases from the Port Development Levy, adjusted tariffs, and a more aggressive revenue drive by the Authority.

“We believe that with sufficient funding and attention to inland waterways, we can significantly enhance transportation safety and efficiency for the benefit of all Nigerians,” he stated.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Sanni Eshilokun, commended the NIWA MD for the agency’s accomplishments in the 2024 fiscal year and affirmed the proposed budget.

Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Inland Waterways, Honourable Ojotu Ojema, stressed the importance of collaboration to make water transportation safer and more accessible.

The budget defense session reinforced NIWA’s commitment to expanding revenue streams and improving Nigeria’s inland waterways infrastructure for sustainable development and enhanced safety in the transportation sector.