The Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has assured Nigerians that the National Inland Waterways Act aimed at boosting security on the nation’s waterways will be passed soon.
Oyetoala, a former Governor of Osun State, noted that the marine code would be useful in tackling the security challenges pending the time the bill would be passed.
The minister stated this on Tuesday while inaugurating the right legacy projects developed by the management of NIWA’s headquarters in Lokoja, Kogi State capital.
Oyetola also ordered NIWA to start the implementation of the newly developed marine code to enhance and improve security along the nation’s waterways.
He lamented that only 3,000 out of the 10,000km of waterways in the country are navigable, adding that the marine code would come in handy in addressing the underutilisation of the enormous potential in the sector.
“I want to call on the management of this all-important sector to start the immediate implementation of the newly developed marine code in order to address all the security challenges along the nation’s waterways,” the minister said.
He also called on the private sector to consider exploring the potential business opportunities available in the nation’s waterways in line with the vision of President Bola Tinubu, which placed emphasis on the blue economy.
Earlier, the Managing Director of NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji, called on fellow staff and management of the organisation to always come up with ideas that would help to catapult the agency to achieve its economic potential in living with the vision of the President.
‘My doors are always open, to welcome ideas and suggestions that would help in assisting NIWA to realise the vision of Mr. President, who believes that there are enormous economic potentials in the marine sector,” he said.
The projects inaugurated include the administrative block, security post, 62 passengers boat, ambulance and hydrographic survey boat.
