The Master Mariners Association of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to develop water transportation as an alternative means of conveying containers and petroleum products in the country.

President, MMAN, Capt. Ade Olopoenia, said instances of containers and tankers falling on people and properties could be minimised if such heavy duty cargos were taken off the roads.

He said, “In the developed countries you don’t see containers or petroleum tankers conveying cargo over long distances on the roads. These things are usually transported via rail or the waterways.

“Doing so frees up the roads for vehicular traffic. We should take advantage of our railways and the inland waterways instead of concentrating everything on the roads, which were not built to carry such weight.”

He also lamented the ineffectiveness of the Ministry of Transport in the area of testing vehicles for road worthiness.

“Some of these trucks, if tested, will be discovered that they are over 30 years’ and not fit to ply the roads. We should revive the old system of training and retraining drivers before they are issued licences.” Olopoenia said.

He also advised the government to take advantage of the inland waterways to move cargo via barges within and outside Lagos.