Nigeria and Bangladesh are exploring a bilateral partnership to develop inland water transportation, with discussions focusing on dredging, boat construction, infrastructure development, technical training and investment opportunities.

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) disclosed this following a meeting between its management and Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Miah Md Mainul Kabir, at the authority’s liaison office in Abuja on Thursday, November 12, 2026.

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According to a statement by NIWA’s Acting General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Tracy Kara, the visit was aimed at strengthening institutional relations between the two countries and identifying areas where they could share technical knowledge and expertise.

Receiving the delegation, NIWA’s Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Umar Girei, described Nigeria and Bangladesh as riverine countries with considerable inland waterways potential.

Girei said Bangladesh had approximately 24,000 kilometres of waterways, which account for more than 25 per cent of its passenger transportation and support the movement of millions of tonnes of cargo.

Nigeria, he noted, has an estimated 10,000 kilometres of inland waterways, with the River Niger and River Benue providing major transportation routes and potential navigable access to about 28 of the country’s 36 states.

He said Bangladesh’s experience in using waterways for transportation and economic development could provide valuable lessons as Nigeria seeks to expand its inland water transport sector.

The NIWA chief identified possible areas of collaboration to include technical exchanges in dredging, channel maintenance and measures to ensure year-round navigability.

Other proposed areas include the development and management of river ports, jetties and passenger ferry systems.

Responding, Kabir said both countries had significant opportunities to benefit from cooperation in inland water transportation.

He identified dredging, boat construction, marine equipment manufacturing and capacity building through training and retraining as areas where Bangladesh could share its experience and technical expertise with Nigeria.

The proposed partnership could also create opportunities for knowledge transfer, improve water transport infrastructure and support the movement of passengers and goods through Nigeria’s inland waterways.

NIWA’s mandate includes developing and regulating inland navigation, providing alternative transportation routes for passengers and cargo, and constructing infrastructure such as river ports and jetties.

The latest discussions also build on previous efforts by both countries to explore cooperation in waterways development. In 2022, NIWA and Bangladesh discussed possible collaboration in dredging, boat building, training and other areas of mutual interest.

Both delegations expressed optimism that the latest engagement would lead to practical areas of cooperation and sustainable institutional partnerships.

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However, the discussions represent an exploration of potential collaboration, rather than confirmation that a formal agreement or specific investment commitments have been concluded.