The federal government has approved the sum of N6.6 billion for the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), to boost water transportation in the country and increase revenue generation.
Managing Director of NIWA, Dr. George Moghalu, disclosed this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Marine Transportation for the 2021 budget defense exercise on Tuesday.
According to Moghalu, the N6.6 billion is for capital expenditure of the Authority in the proposed 2021 budget, which was essential to the completion of all ongoing projects.
The managing director, therefore, appealed to the senate to put necessary legislations in place to help the agency develop and boost inland waterways in Nigeria in line with President Buhari’s Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP).
“In line with the economic recovery growth plan of President Muhammadu Buhari, the authority reiterates its determination, now more than ever, to upscale the development of inland water transportation in Nigeria.
“I therefore seize this opportunity to appeal to Mr. Chairman and these distinguished members of the committee to use your good offices to ensure and facilitate a conducive financial and legal environment that would provide the boost needed for NIWA to achieve its full potentials,” Moghalu said.
Moghalu told the senate committee that the agency could not achieve actual project implementation in 2020 as a result of the delay in capital releases occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
