Federal Government Calls on States to Invest in Water Transport

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has called for state governors to significantly invest in water transport, particularly in acquiring boats, to enhance the country's transportation infrastructure and lower associated costs.

Mr. Oyetola, who previously served as the governor of Osun State, made this appeal on Tuesday during a session with a joint committee of the House of Representatives focused on Marine Transport, Ports, Maritime Safety, Education, Shipping Services, Inland Waterways, and Ocean Fisheries.

The minister highlighted that the federal government has already procured and distributed boats designated for use on various waterways across the nation, urging state governments to also take an active role in this initiative.

“We appeal to regional authorities to focus on alternative transport methods. The federal government alone cannot meet all the needs. We have procured some boats and distributed them to a few states, but we are urging state governments to make substantial investments in our water transport systems,” he stated.

Mr. Oyetola pointed out that if effectively managed, water transport can serve as a cost-efficient option for commuters.

“More than two states are interconnected by water routes. Water transport is inherently more affordable and would become even more economical with proper management. Therefore, I call on the National Assembly to encourage the states to invest in this sector,” he added.

Nigeria boasts one of the largest networks of inland waterways in Africa, covering approximately 10,000 kilometers and connecting coastal, riverine, and inland states via major rivers like the Niger, Benue, Cross River, and Ogun, as well as several creeks and lagoons.

Despite these geographical advantages, the potential of water transport remains largely unrealized, with inadequate integration into the national transportation framework, thereby overburdening road transport systems and inflating costs.

Oyetola's appeal for increased water transport investment is particularly relevant amidst challenges such as soaring fuel prices, frequent road accidents, traffic jams, and the escalating costs of maintaining road infrastructure. Inland water transport represents a viable, cost-effective, and energy-efficient alternative for transferring passengers and goods, especially in states that share waterways or are situated alongside significant rivers.

Developing water transport entails establishing passenger and cargo boat services, building jetties and terminals, enhancing navigational channels, and implementing safety measures to regulate operations.

While the federal government bears constitutional responsibility for overseeing and managing inland waterways through agencies like the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), state governments play a pivotal role in supplying boats, developing terminals, facilitating last-mile connectivity, and enforcing local regulations.

Numerous states in Nigeria are naturally interconnected by water. For instance, the River Niger connects Niger, Kogi, Anambra, Delta, and Bayelsa states, and the River Benue aligns with Benue, Taraba, and segments of Kogi. Coastal and riverine states including Lagos, Ogun, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom also have interlinked creeks and lagoons conducive for intra-state and inter-state water transport.

However, these links have not been fully exploited due to insufficient investment, overlapping regulatory frameworks, safety issues, and a lack of political commitment at the sub-national level.

Although certain states, especially Lagos, have heavily invested in water transport through state-owned ferry services and terminals, many others still depend predominantly on road transport, even where waterways are available. This disparity supports the federal government’s assertion that substantial progression in water transport is reliant on robust partnerships with state administrations.

Regarding unregulated fishing practices, the minister specified that his ministry is collaborating with the Nigerian Navy to acquire additional patrol boats aimed at combating illegal and unregulated fishing in the nation’s waters.

He also suggested the creation of a coast guard to enhance protection against illicit activities on Nigeria’s waterways.

“Enforcement poses significant challenges. We have consistently advocated for a coast guard; however, that is still pending. Consequently, how can we effectively monitor all communities? Some of these areas are not even recognized by NIWA. Thus, it's a daunting task to manage,” he concluded.