Cargo movement to river, inland ports, maritime security top agenda for maritime agencies

Cargo movement from Lagos Ports to Onitsha River Port and other inland dry ports in the country through the waterways were issues in the front burner at the just concluded All Heads of Maritime Agencies Monthly Meeting hosted by National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) at its Headquarters in Lokoja, Kogi State.

George Moghalu, managing director of NIWA, who briefed newsmen at the end of the session, stated that maritime agencies are also looking for ways to harmonise their operations.

According to Moghalu, the meeting also looked at issues concerning maritime security and safety, even as briefings from both Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and NIWA on waterways security were received.

“Government is conscious and making effort on security and also taking safety measures on waterways seriously to curb mishaps on our waters,” he said.

He further disclosed that there were discussion on efforts made in the area of trade, development of manpower, enforcing protocols to reduce the carnage on our waterways, and the removal of wrecks which is being address by all the sister agencies in the country.

He further stated that the meeting set up a committee on multi-model approach to cargo delivery, and briefing was received on the Nigerian Railway Corporation support on cargo movement from the ports to the dry port especially in Kaduna.

“It has become very important for us in the maritime sector to have decided to setup a platform where we can share ideas, synergise and contribute our quota in developing polices and building the industry,” Moghalu said.

The meeting was attended by Bashir Jamoh, DG/CEO of NIMASA; Hassan Bello, executive secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council; Sam Nwakohu, Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) as well as representatives of Nigeria Customs service and Nigerian Railways Corporation.