The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the government of Bangladesh are exploring bilateral cooperation to strengthen inland water transportation, with focus on technical expertise, capacity development, infrastructure investment and knowledge sharing.
The proposed partnership emerged during a courtesy visit by the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Nigeria, His Excellency Miah Mohammad Mainul Kabir, to the NIWA management at its Liaison Office in Abuja.
Receiving the delegation, NIWA Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Malam Umar Yusuf Girei, described the visit as an important opportunity to deepen institutional relations between the two countries, particularly given their shared characteristics as riverine nations with vast inland waterways resources.
Girei noted that Bangladesh has 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.
Nigeria, he said, has an estimated 10,000 kilometres of inland waterways, with the River Niger and River Benue serving as major transportation corridors and providing navigable access to about 28 of the country’s 36 states.
He observed that Bangladesh’s experience in utilising its waterways for transportation and economic development offers valuable lessons for Nigeria as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to harness the economic potential of the inland waterways sector.
The NIWA chief identified potential areas of collaboration to include technical and knowledge exchange in dredging, channel maintenance and the sustenance of year-round navigability.
Other areas include the development and management of river ports, jetties and passenger ferry systems, which are critical to improving water transportation infrastructure and expanding economic activities.
In his response, Kabir expressed appreciation to the NIWA management for the warm reception, noting that Nigeria and Bangladesh had significant opportunities to benefit from mutually rewarding partnerships in inland water transportation.
He 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.
Both parties expressed optimism that the engagement would translate into concrete areas of cooperation and sustainable institutional partnerships, paving the way for improved inland water transportation and broader economic development in both countries.