By Ignatius Ushie
Minister of Transportation, has urged the ministry to continue to develop the inland water ways transportation.
Sambo, who gave the charge during his valedictory speech on Friday at a farewell ceremony organized by the ministry in Abuja noted that Nigeria has more than 150 kilometers of coast line, and 10, 000 kilometers of navigable water ways enough to improve movements of agricultural, and mineral produce scattered across all parts of the country.
According to Sambo, about 60 per cent of America’s agricultural exports are carried through inland water ways making that country’s crops most competitive in the market.
He said that currently, 38 states in the United States depend on inland water ways for their economies.
“Director Maritime Services. I have delivered my own but you refused to deliver mine. He knows what I am talking about. I am so passionate about Inland Water Ways. I spent 13 years of my life working for NIWA. And I know what it means to have an efficient Inland Water Ways Transportation (IWT). God did not bless Nigeria with more than 150 kilometers of coast line, and 10000 kilometers of navigable water ways for nothing, with fertile lands for agriculture, blessed us with large deposits of minerals including crude oil.
“Nigeria has the 6th largest deposit of crude oil in the world. We have one of the largest deposit of gold in the world, go and ask the people from Zamfara. And all these minerals and agricultural lands are along this Y-shaped belt. I told President Muhammadu Buhari that today, 38 states in the United States depend on inland water ways for their economies.
“Through inland water ways they move about 360 million tons of Cargoes valued at over $90 billion every year on waters. 60 per cent of America’s agricultural exports are carried on inland water ways that is why their crops are competitive in the market because inland water ways is the cheapest means of moving large goods.
“I have a passion for inland water ways because I know that this country has something it is not tapping” he said.
The Minister described the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Magdalene Ajani, as a professional, who is committed to her work, adding that she pioneered working online in the civil service.
Also, speaking during the event, Prince Ademola Adewole Adegoroye, the outgoing Minister of State Transportation, recalled how in 2015 he came into Abuja and stayed for few months just to lobby for a ministerial appointment but could not get it then only to be named Minister when he did not even know about it.
He described his days in the ministry as pleasant because the people he meets at work on daily basis are happy and pleasant people.
