Kogi State is a state with many people around waterways. In such areas, it is impossible to get away from that area to another without the use of a vessel. Some other areas use waterways because it would take lesser time to cross the water than to use the road transportation.
Imagine a 5-15 minutes’ trip to Shintaku from Lokoja, taking upwards of between 1-3 hours. It is only economical in time and money to just go across on water from Lokoja to Koton Karfe, Itobe, Idah, Ajaokuta, Ibaji and even Onitsha.
The movement of goods and services along inland waterways is one of the oldest means of transporting goods and services from one point to another. This was largely since inland water transportation offers the most economical, energy efficient and environmentally friendly means of transporting all types of cargoes from place to place. It also offered safe and cheaper transportation in areas with watercourses.
Obviously, the economic development of most developing nations of Africa, including Nigeria, should reflect in the development, organization, coordination and management of this sea-borne trade, which is critical and cardinal to the development of international trade with other nations of the world. This is because, maritime-transport services duly serve as the propelling anchor and evolving force for the survival, hence, the formulation of execution of policies that disrupt the efficient running of this vital sub-economic system globally, will affect the efficiency and well-being of the enlarged society as well as the people.
At certain times the issue of overstretched infrastructure on the road make use of the ferry logical. They reduce stress that could arise from being in traffic for a long time. The most established ferry service in Nigeria is in Lagos state. Other states that enjoy ferrying services to a high degree are Niger, Benue, Rivers, Bayelsa and other states in the south-south region of the country. Kogi State has more waters than some of the states aforementioned.
Nigeria made a bold attempt to change the face of maritime business within its coasts when it enacted the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003. The Guidelines on Implementation of Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003 was issued in April 2004 to facilitate implementation of cabotage.
The Act became enforceable May 2004. Since then only Lagos State has shown genuine interest in passenger boat business. And eventually, Lagosians have realised that it is easier and safer to move on waters, using watercraft like ferry, to travel from the Lagos Island to some parts of the mainland.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has been allocating billions of Naira to National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) for the development of inland water transportation across the country. In 2012, over N11.7 Billion was allocated to NIWA for projects such as the procurement of about 45passenger ferry boats and construction of river ports at Lokoja, Idah in Kogi State, Baro in Niger State, Oguta in Imo State, Degema in Cross River State, Okrika in Rivers State and Yenagoa in Bayelsa State.
Water transportation on Rivers Niger and Benue cuts across a substantial part of Kogi State and eventually provides cheaper means of conveying goods from south to north and vice versa. The operations of ferry service and other passenger boat business also creates and deepens the market for diverse products and services such as supply of petroleum products.
One of the viable business opportunities in inland transport is boat building and this has the potentials for creating multiples of direct and indirect jobs for the youths. There are old boat builders but there is need for them to build new boats with modern technology. Boat builders need to build lighter boats so that it can be cheaper to build and easy to navigate through the water.
People need to invest in buying of ferries and passenger boats that will ply the waters, invest in buying barges and crafts that will move cargoes from the sea ports in Lagos or Port Harcourt through the inland waters to the importers in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano though Lokoja. Nigerian water transport will be difficult to grow if more private sector investors do not key into the business.
New technology is also rapidly advancing the efficiency and performance of boats, allowing for special boats to be better suited to take on specific challenges. In particular, the Jaji 31 built in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, is considered to be the best possible passenger boat for the waterways of Africa.
What is good for the local, ethical business owner is also good for local businesses in general. When local businesses developed around tourism and service recognize the exponential power of referral and partnership businesses, everyone wins.
The passenger boat business is growing around the globe. The passenger boat business has been present in our world for as far back as civilization can remember. Long before we had vessels to travel overland with, boats provided the vital lifeline for travel and transport.
During the recent flooding in Lokoja, boat operators held sway as people took delight in board boats from Ganaja village to Natacco and Galilee areas of the town. It was fun doing so for them. Waterways are still the only way many places can be reached, in particular, in parts of Kogi State, poor roadways, or no roadways at all, offer amazing potential for water transportation businesses.
There are indications that the passenger boat business is booming on the African market. It has recently been acknowledged as one of the best businesses to get started on the African continent. It is high time we think of using ferry and passenger boats that taxis from Lokoja to KotonKarfi, Itobe, Shintaku, Idah, Ibaji, and Onitsha and into the Delta areas. We can also do the same northward by running taxing on water to Benue and Kwara states on water, carrying goods and passengers. It can also be great tourism potentials if Kogi State Government can procure luxury boats for tourists who love sightseeing on water.
The inland water transport business is confronted by several challenges that hinder the growth of the business, such as cultural issues, multiple taxation and limited operational timing. The cultural and attitudinal patterns of Nigerians such as scarcity and safety concerns debar many people from boarding ferries and moving on waters. Nigerians see water transport as meant for people in the riverine areas who know how to swim.
Multiple taxation imposed on water transport by federal, states and local governments discourages investors.
Rivers ports business is supposed to be private sector driven but the rate at which the private people are investing into the business is very low. It is the mandate of government to build facilities like ports but it is left for the business men to make the river ports functional by investing in boats and barges acquisition.
Having developed ports in Idah and Lokoja, it is not NIWA’s business to buy barges and tugboats that will move passengers and freight using the ports. The private sector is to step in to make the already built ports functional.
Petrol stations are needed at established ports as the boat operators are currently buying fuel in jerry cans. Government should also encourage private investors by providing loans, as they lack funds to grow their business.
There is need for government to encourage people who want to build boats in Kogi State by giving them the necessary incentives so as to create employment in the industry.
– Abdul Aji writes from Lokoja.
