For three days next month, Eko Hotels and Suites in Victoria Island,
Lagos, would be agog. Between August 12 and 14, the place will be
playing hosts to some august guests from across the world.
Top government officials from within and outside the country,
decision makers and top players in the maritime sector, community
leaders, representatives of regulatory authorities, financial institutions,
oil-prospecting companies, commercial sand-mining firms, dredging
companies, operators of hotels, dockyards, restaurants yacht yards,
journalists and indeed, major stakeholders in the water transportation
sector would converge on the venue. Many will come from outside the
country for the three-day event, an international conference and
exhibition organised by the National Inland Waterways Authority
(NIWA).
The event, the reporter gathered, is the first of such to be organised by
NIWA. The theme is Modernising Inland Water Infrastructure and
Vessels for Safe and Sustainable Inland Water Transportation in
Nigeria.
NIWA’s Managing Director, Hajiya Maryam Inna Ciroma, explained
that the international conference would provide a platform for
dialogue among different groups and stakeholders that are involved
directly and indirectly in the nation’s inland waterways for the benefit
of the economy.
Said she: “The international conference and exhibition has been
created, as an opportunity to gain knowledge on the vast economic
opportunities available on our waterways. It is a conference for
dialogue of the different groups and stakeholders involved in the
sustainability, safety and utilisation of our inland waterways for the
benefit of the economy and for tourism.
“The conference theme seeks to unveil government programmes, plans
and policies, networking and organisational relationships for the
different categories in the inland waterways sector.”
It would also be an avenue to showcase the capacities of the new
River Niger, the dredging of which the federal government has so far
expended about N3 billion on.
“It is right for us to bring this knowledge to everybody and we thought
that the best way to go about it is to hold an international conference
and exhibition where we will exhibit what the dredged River Nigeria
potentially has for the growth of the Nigerian economy. We need
everybody to know that there is good business for anybody who wants
to invest in our inland waterways,” she added.
Several stakeholders have argued that the country has one of the
biggest maritime potentials in the world, but regretted that such
treasure trove had been largely abandoned over the years. Yet the
nation’s inland waterways, if well exploited, have the potentials to
solve key developmental issues in the country and provide soft
landing for global investors. And since the essence of the conference
is to showcase the potentials of movement of goods and services on
water in the country, and promote investments and trade through
Nigeria’s inland waterways, not a few are those applauding the
initiative by NIWA, saying the concept could not have come at a
better time.
Mr. Oti Ukpai, managing director of Flintxposture, the firm
coordinating the event, said the NIWA-ICE, as the three-day event is
designated, would “help expose and capture the full strength of local
maritime players, the level of foreign content and the full financial
outlay to major stakeholders, including government.”
He explained further: “We wish to possibly surpass the inherent and
obvious gains of Nigeria’s very lucrative waterways, and showcase it
not only to Nigerians but to foreigners alike. And stakeholders would
have opportunities to meet the real players.”
Ukpai described the initiative as another World Economic Forum that
would give practical bent to the full exploitation of Nigeria’s
waterways.
“The vision is to introduce sustainability efforts, grow new towns and
flourish the local people and the economy. It is a win-win situation
for Nigeria, foreign investors, shipping companies and financial
institutions. Even players and stakeholders in security businesses are
expected to come and share with others how they can contribute to
the safety of shipping and maritime business. Nigeria’s tourism will
be given another frontier because the waterways will benefit boat
cruise and many private inter-state waterways transportation
operators. It is a full-team effort, and we are not afraid to try to give
the economy another significant window and show the world what
President Goodluck Jonathan has done in this area and all the
benefits therein,” Ukpai explained.
The reporter gathered that a number of companies and groups,
including Glossands, Drillex, Japaul, EAL and Tarzan Maritime Ltd,
have signified their intention to be part of the programme.
Besides the conference and exhibition, the event would also feature
seminars, meetings, networking cocktail, gala dinner, boat cruise,
sponsors appreciation dinner and award night.
The organisers said a website, www.niwa-ice.com was opened for the
event, adding that interested sponsors and participants should visit
the site.
SOURCE : www.sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=73072