The Area Manager of the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority, Calabar Area Office, Engr. Stanley Onouha, has called for increased investments to unlock the economic potential of the Calabar waterways.

Engr. Onouha made the call during a study tour by the Senior Executive Course 47 of the Nigeria Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, to his office in Calabar on Friday.

“NIWA Calabar Area Office has enormous potential to help unlock the economy of the country and tap the benefits derivable from the blue economy.

“To achieve this, we need increased budgetary provision so that we can deliver on dredging on some specific water channels to increase traffic.

“This will also ensure greater infrastructure, like jetties, ports, and a road network that leads to the ports in the area. These will attract investments into the area and unlock its economic potential,” he said.

He added that the area also has about 487km of waterway, and most of it is not navigable, which underscores the need for increased funding to open up the waterfront.

He also disclosed that the Calabar Area Office has not experienced any boat mishaps due to increased advocacy to its stakeholders.

He thanked the visiting team, on behalf of the Managing Director and staff of NIWA, for deeming it fit to visit the Area Office during their study tour.

He also expressed optimism that the outcome of the visit will significantly contribute to informed policy recommendations that will shape Nigeria’s developmental trajectory in the years ahead.

In his remarks, the NIPSS Team Lead, Brig. Gen. Lateef Jimoh, said the institute is the foremost think tank in Nigeria, established 47 years ago.

He said the institute’s mandate is to provide training for senior executives and seek solutions to current challenges in Nigeria.

He also disclosed that each year, the President commissions them to address topical issues in Nigeria, and this year’s study tour is themed ‘Blue Economy and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities.’