The Minister of transportation, Mua’zu Jaji Sambo, has advised that Nigeria should not toy with the hidden treasures in the 850 kilometers inland waterways across the country.
Sambo, said this, over the weekend in Abuja while giving a valedictory speech in preparatory to his exit as a minister of transportation.
The Minister, reminded that his experience as a former Director in the department of inland waterways and a Minister in the entire ministry, exposes him to the economic values therein.
According to the Minister, country like the United States of America, derives much financial benefits with judicious use of its water ways in transporting Agricultural produce within the country.
Mua’zu Jaji Sambo, said, “experience, has shown that about 38 states in the USA, are currently making huge amount of dollars through perfect use of the inland waterways in transporting goods. Iam not saying that other means of transportation are not good. Railway transportation is also another better means of transporting goods. but my advise is that economic diversification evolves and the inland waterways in Nigeria should be exploited. So we should also ensure that already navigated 27 states across the country, should be of immense priority”
Also speaking, the Minister of state for transportation, Ademola Adegoroye alluded that the FEC approval of a decade long Ondo deep blue sea, is huge achievement under the ten months administration.
Adegoroye, further, stated that serving as a minister of state, was a privilege undeserved. ” My appointment actually came as a surprise because it came when I had stoped lobbing for it. Years past I came to Abuja to distribute my CVs but it failed to work but it came when I did not ask for it. May be the way and time God wanted it”.
Speaking earlier, permanent secretary in the ministry of transportation Dr. Magdalene Ajani, said, working with both Minister’s was such cordial and had resulted in huge achievement within a short period of time.
Also leader of staff union in the ministry, Comrade Apampa Abey, while appreciating both Minister’s for a cordial working relationship, said that the staffs has enjoyed much benefits within the short period of time working with the Ministers.
