Admiralty Society of Nigeria (ASN) has called on the Federal Government and National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to elaborate dredging master plan implemented across the country to ensure the safety of waterways, an enhanced ecosystem and an improved environment for maritime businesses.

The society also urged NIWA to activate private-public partnerships to enable capable and willing private investors to contribute to the optimum development of the sector.

President, ASN, Angus Obinna Chukwuka, in a statement, said waterways, when properly dredged become deeper and wider and able to allow navigation of bigger and more vessels whether for commercial purposes, tourism and otherwise. According to him, it will speed up maritime business and yield greater profits.

“Apart from that the waterways are cleared of debris, and wrecks and are therefore safer for goods and passenger conveyances. Furthermore, dredging or clearing of our waterways culminates in the elimination of dangerous inorganic and or toxic wastes around our coastlines across the country.

Such wastes contribute substantially to the poisoning and death of sea animals and man the ultimate consumers as well as depletion of sea foods and disruption of the ecosystem.

“Blocked canals and drains which hinder access of rain or flood waters to the streams have severally resulted in flooding of communities and cities and rendering inhabitants homeless, sick and poor, with many death records occurring.”

The recent flooding of Maiduguri and other cities across Nigeria, he noted, could have been avoided through proactive dredging of our waterways and cleaning of our canals, gutters and other channels.

Chukwuka further advocated for proper licensing to be issued to deserving businessmen to actualise some of the functions which the enabling legislation.

“All hands must be on deck in the clearing of our waterways, canals and drains. Citizens must be properly sensitised to avoid dumping plastic wastes into the gutters and along the roads Those, who violate this should be prosecuted for deterrence.

Also, our waste management agencies should intensify efforts to eliminate wastes on coastlines, waterways and drains,” he urged.