The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Government of Bangladesh have expressed readiness to explore bilateral cooperation aimed at strengthening inland water transportation in both countries.
The proposed partnership will focus on technical exchange, capacity building, infrastructure development and investment opportunities in the inland waterways sector.
The commitment was expressed when the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Nigeria, Miah Mohammad Kabir, paid a courtesy visit to NIWA management at its liaison office in Abuja.
Receiving the delegation, NIWA’s Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Umar Girei, described the visit as an opportunity to strengthen institutional relations between the two countries, particularly given their similarities as riverine nations with vast inland waterways potential.
Girei said Bangladesh had approximately 24,000 kilometres of waterways, accounting for more than 25 per cent of its passenger transportation and facilitating the movement of millions of tonnes of cargo.
He said Nigeria, on the other hand, had an estimated 10,000 kilometres of inland waterways, with the River Niger and River Benue serving as major waterways and providing navigable access to about 28 of the country’s 36 states.
According to him, Bangladesh’s experience in harnessing its waterways for transportation and economic development offers valuable lessons for Nigeria as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to unlock the economic potential of the inland waterways sector.
The NIWA acting managing director identified possible areas of cooperation to include technical and knowledge exchange in dredging, channel maintenance and sustaining year-round navigability.
Other areas, he said, include the development and management of river ports, jetties and passenger ferry systems.
In his response, the Bangladesh High Commissioner thanked NIWA management for the warm reception, noting that both countries had significant opportunities to benefit from mutually rewarding partnerships in inland water transportation.
Kabir identified dredging, boat construction, marine equipment manufacturing and capacity building through training and retraining as key areas where Bangladesh could share its experience and technical expertise with Nigeria.
He expressed optimism that the engagement would lead to concrete areas of cooperation and sustainable institutional partnerships to advance inland water transportation and economic development in both countries.
The two parties expressed confidence that the proposed collaboration would contribute to improving the efficiency, safety and economic viability of inland waterways transportation in Nigeria and Bangladesh.
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