The National Inland Waterways Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2017, scaled through third reading at the Senate on Wednesday.
The bill, which provides for the management, regulation and development of the National Inland Water Ways, and to promote private sector participation in it, was passed after a clause-by-clause consideration.
It was sponsored by Sen. Andy Uba (APC-Anambra).
In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at the plenary, said the passage of the bill was a major feat and the 8th Senate’s fulfilment of its promise.
He said that the passage would create a new horizon in the inland waterways sub-sector and the transport sector at large.
“I will like to congratulate everybody for this feat we have achieved today. This is a new day for our waterways.
“ I believe that with the inclusion of the participation of private sector and strengthening of the regulatory provisions, we are going to see an improved management of waterways and improvement of the transport sector.
“I will like to thank Sen. Andy Uba for coming up with this bill and the committee for their prompt action in dealing with the bill.
“Thank you all for your commitment for the development of the transport sector and increasing the ease of doing business in Nigeria,’’ he said. (NAN)