The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has raised concerns over the underutilisation of Nigeria’s inland waterways, despite the country’s vast maritime potential and heavy government investment in the sector.
According to NIWA, the nation continues to lag behind other coastal economies in Africa and Asia due to poor infrastructure, weak investment, and a lack of coordinated policy implementation to drive blue economy growth.
Speaking at the 3rd Ehingbeti Blue Economy Hub in Lagos, the Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Sarat Braimah, urged both the Federal Government and private investors to scale up funding for inland waterways transport, trade, and local economic development.
She described Nigeria’s waterways as a sleeping giant that could transform the national economy, enhance inter-regional trade, and provide millions of jobs if properly harnessed.
Harnessing the Economic Power of Nigeria’s Inland Waterways
Braimah emphasised that inland waterways are central to the daily survival of communities surrounded by water, playing a critical role in commerce, logistics, and connectivity.
“Despite the enormous potential of Nigeria’s inland waterways, the country still trails behind global peers in using these natural resources for transport, trade, and local development,” she said.
She noted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had demonstrated commitment by creating the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, which she described as a strong policy step toward tapping into the nation’s maritime wealth.
According to Braimah, Nigeria is geographically positioned to lead in water transport, boasting 28 littoral states connected by navigable waters and linking directly to five West African countries.
“This geographical advantage gives us a natural trade corridor across West Africa, but without the right infrastructure and investment, we cannot maximise it,” she added.
Learning from Global Examples
The NIWA boss compared Nigeria’s slow pace of inland waterway development with China’s rapid progress, noting that consistent investment and infrastructure planning propelled China’s dominance in global trade.
“If you go to China today, their success story is linked to early investment in inland waterways. They started just five years ago, and the results are visible — it is what’s making them a global industrial hub,” Braimah said.
She stressed that Nigeria could replicate this success through a clear investment roadmap, emphasizing dredging of rivers, rehabilitation of jetties, and construction of navigational aids to ensure safer, more efficient water transport.
While commending the Federal Government’s policy efforts, Braimah insisted that institutional frameworks alone would not be enough to transform Nigeria’s inland waterways into a sustainable growth driver.
“Beyond policies and seminars, we must make the commensurate investment. The blue economy thrives on infrastructure, not rhetoric,” she said.
She identified priority areas such as river dredging, port development, maintenance of navigational routes, and community integration as key enablers for sustainable waterway development.
According to her, such long-term investments would open up isolated riverine communities, reduce pressure on road networks, and boost trade and tourism across coastal regions.
“Our leaders must focus on projects with lasting economic impact, not just short-term visibility. River dredging may not bring instant returns, but it transforms communities, creates jobs, and stimulates regional trade,” she added.
Unlocking Nigeria’s Blue Economy Through Collaboration
The Ehingbeti Blue Economy Hub serves as a platform linking Lagos’s maritime heritage with modern strategies for developing the blue economy.
It brings together government agencies, private sector players, and coastal communities to explore how Nigeria’s inland waterways can drive sustainable economic growth.
Braimah noted that the success of this effort would depend on active collaboration between the public and private sectors, stressing that NIWA is open to partnerships that would fast-track development.
“Government alone cannot fund this transformation. We need private capital, innovation, and technology to improve safety, efficiency, and connectivity on our waterways,” she said.
Experts at the event also called for stronger regulatory oversight and data-driven planning to ensure that projects deliver measurable economic and social value.
They emphasised that inland waterway transport remains one of the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly modes of transport, with the potential to decongest roads, reduce emissions, and strengthen regional trade integration.
A Call to Action for Sustainable Growth
The renewed call by NIWA reflects a growing recognition of the blue economy as a vital pillar for Nigeria’s future prosperity.
With a coastline stretching over 850 kilometres and hundreds of navigable rivers, the country possesses one of Africa’s most extensive inland water networks.
However, analysts argue that Nigeria must shift from policy pronouncements to project execution if it hopes to compete globally in maritime trade.
They suggest that a combination of strategic investment, public-private partnerships, and infrastructure renewal could turn Nigeria’s inland waterways into a major contributor to GDP growth.
As Braimah concluded, “The future of Nigeria’s economy is blue. Our inland waterways hold the key to inclusive development, inter-regional trade, and job creation. But we must act decisively, or risk losing another decade to underdevelopment.”
