Nigeria and Bangladesh Seek Partnership in Water Transport

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) of Nigeria and the Bangladesh government have committed to exploring bilateral cooperation in inland water transportation. This commitment was articulated during a courtesy visit by the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Nigeria, Miah Mohammad Kabir, to NIWA's management at its Liaison Office in Abuja.

NIWA's Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Umar Girei, emphasized the importance of this visit in strengthening institutional relations between the two countries, noting their shared characteristics as riverine nations with significant inland waterways potential. Bangladesh boasts approximately 24,000 kilometers of waterways, facilitating over 25 percent of its passenger transportation, while Nigeria has around 10,000 kilometers of inland waterways.

Girei identified key cooperation areas, including dredging, channel maintenance, and river port development. The Bangladesh High Commissioner highlighted opportunities for collaboration in dredging, boat construction, and capacity building, expressing optimism for sustainable partnerships that could enhance inland water transportation and economic development in both nations.