- Discussions are on top gear between the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) on how to deliver crude to the refineries through the waterways.
- This was made known by the Acting Managing Director of NIWA, Mr Danaladi Ibrahim, told reporters in Lokoja yesterday that formal discussions with the management of the NNPC on the proposal would begin this week.
- According to Danladi, NIWA was encouraged to initiate the proposal following the decision to stop the delivery of crude by trucks to the refineries in Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri.
- He said the organisation had procured enough tugboats to drive the barges, which were of varying capacities from 300 to 800 tonnes.
- The NIWA chief said the organisation had also procured 17 gunboats to guarantee the security of the facilities and personnel involved in the operation.
- Ibrahim hoped the proposal would be considered by the NNPC, saying the organisation had taken steps to protect the banks of River Niger.
- He said his vision was to unlock the potential of the sector in line with efforts of the government to diversify the economy.
“Our prayer is that the Federal Government should muster the necessary political will to finance it while we provide adequate manpower,” he said.