The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) will next week hold an international conference and exhibition in Lagos.
The event, which will also feature an exhibition, is expected to focus on the modernisation of the inland waterways infrastructure and vessels for safe and sustainable water transportation.
President Goodluck Jonathan will be the special guest, according to a press statement by the Public Relations Office of the NIWA, Lagos.
The NIWA Managing Director, Hajiya Maryam Ciroma, said the programme was born out of the need to bring to the knowledge of the local and international community the business potential of the dredged River Niger.
She said that the government had pumped a lot of money into dredging the River Niger and it was only fit to have it put to a profitable use.
She said, “The idea is to bring relevant stakeholders together both locally and internationally to brainstorm and examine critically how the nation’s inland waterways infrastructure including vessels can be improved upon. Experts from the international maritime organisation will be part of the conference.
“Several inland waterways operators including marine and dredging companies, ferry services operators and oil and gas firms have confirmed participation at the conference while several states with inland waterways activities are also billed to participate at the conference.”
Exhibitors at the event are said to be the federal and state governments, river transport companies, oil prospect companies, oil and gas supporting companies, commercial and sand mining companies, dredging companies, shore-based businesses, river craft operators and owners, entrepreneurs, yacht yards, resorts, among others.
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