An Assessment of the National Inland Water Ways Agency's Contribution to the Growth of Nigerian Blue Economy (2023 2026)

Abstract

The National Inland Waterways Agency is one of the agencies under the blue economy, saddled with the responsibility of managing the inland waterways system and developing infrastructural facilities for an efficient intermodal transportation system that is capable of providing employment and generate huge revenue for government. In spite of these enormous tasks, the agency is operating in the same institutional framework which has hindered it from contributing effectively to the dredging of the river Niger and Benue and securing the waterways. It is on this premise that the study assessed the contribution of Inland Waterways Authority to the growth of the Nigerian blue economy. The objectives of the research include assessing ways through which Inland Waterways Authority has contributed to the growth of Nigerian blue economy and examine challenges hindering it from contributing to the Nigerian blue economy. Institutional theory was adopted as the theoretical framework of the study. The descriptive survey research design was relied on and the study adopted quantitative research approach by administering three-hundred and fifty copies of questionnaires on NIWA staff who were selected through purposive sampling technique. The questionnaires were analysed adopting descriptive statistics relying on mean; measures of central tendency and measures of dispersion and the hypothesis was tested relying on Z test. Findings of the study indicated that although inland waterways have demonstrated potential to contribute to Nigeria's blue economy through employment generation, income creation, transportation, and GDP growth, their impact remains constrained by weak institutional arrangements, inadequate financing, poor infrastructure, and inefficient waterway management systems. Therefore, improving the contribution of inland waterways to the blue economy requires policy interventions aimed at enhancing financial autonomy, strengthening institutional coordination, investing in river port infrastructure, expanding navigational channels, and implementing sustainable waterway management strategies