Inland Waterways Authority Reduces Boat Fare Nationwide To Cushion Effects Of COVID-19

Plans are on the way to reduce tariff across the country’s inland waterways. This is according to The Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA.

This is part of NIWA’s contribution towards revamping the economy battered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency has approved the review of the Lokoja River ports contract from N4b to N6b. The Managing director/ Chief Executive Officer, NIWA, Dr George Moghalu stated this in Lokoja.

Dr Moghalu said, “ this will improve patronage of the country’s waterways. It will serve as our own contribution to efforts of the Federal and state governments in revamping the economy.

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“We are considering a reduction on tariffs payable on our waterways to encourage patronage and serve as our own contribution towards efforts to improve the economy after the Covid19.

“The country’s waterways is grossly underutilised. There are only three thousand out of the ten thousand waterways in the country  that are in use.”

Dr Moghalu said that NIWA will spare no effort towards putting all waterways to use to reduce pressure on Nigeria roads and airports,

“We want rivers transportation to be the number one transportation system on the movement. Both for cargoes and passengers in the post COVID era.

“The damage done to our roads through the movement of large cargoes is alarming. If those cargoes are moved through the water, it will make the roads last longer.

“We want to put more ferries on our waterways, open up the channel, and trade.”

On the Lokoja port located at Jamata, Moghalu said the contract has been reviewed from N4,112,346,572.26 to N6,405,698,402.62 with the same contractor to handled; promised that the agency will complete the port as scheduled.

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