NIWA MD visits ceramic firms to boost ease of doing business

By Joy Enamuna 

 

The Acting Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Alhaji Umar Yusuf Girei, has visited two ceramic factories in Kogi State as part of efforts to promote ease of doing business and expand the use of inland waterways for industrial logistics.

The visit, which aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, was aimed at exploring partnerships that would support the growth of the ceramic industry through cost-effective transportation of raw materials and finished products.

Girei first visited BNL Ceramics, where he was received by Mr Zhang Xin, who represented the company’s Managing Director and expressed the firm’s readiness to collaborate with NIWA.

Addressing the management, the NIWA boss said the visit was to gain firsthand knowledge of the company’s operations and challenges, while identifying areas of partnership in the utilisation of inland waterways.

“The purpose of this visit is to understand your activities, the challenges you face and how NIWA can partner with you in transporting raw materials and finished goods through the waterways,” Girei said.

He later visited the West African Ceramics Company, where he was received by Mr Emmanuel Oreye, a representative of the Managing Director.

Girei said NIWA was intensifying efforts to ensure that inland waterways remained navigable all year round in order to support industries and reduce pressure on road infrastructure.

“Our goal is to partner with manufacturers and make water transportation a reliable option that will lower production costs and enhance business efficiency,” he stated.

Responding, Oreye commended the NIWA management for the visit, noting that the company already relied on waterways to transport raw materials.

“The use of waterways has helped us reduce production costs compared to road transportation, which comes with several challenges,” he said, adding that further support from NIWA would boost operations.

Senior officials who accompanied the acting managing director included the General Managers of Research and Planning Services, Marine, Legal, Engineering and Special Duties, as well as the Head of Finance and the Commander of the Inland Waterways Police Command.