Too many boat mishaps, uncalled for, criminal – NIWA MD

**Signs Performance Bond, Plans to Partner Local Boat Builders

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr Bola Oyebamiji, has described recent incidences of boat mishaps on the nation’s waterways as uncalled for and criminal.

The Managing Director disclosed this while fielding questions after signing Performance Bonds with various departmental heads of the Authority at the end of a two-way Special Retreat/Workshop on Wednesday in Lokoja.

He said that the retreat themed, “Repositioning the Inland Waterways Authority for Excellence”, was aimed at preparing and building the capacity of of the management and staff to meet the aspirations of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Inland Waterways and the Blue Economy.

Oyebamiji decried the “series of boat mishaps” on the he nation’s waterways saying that in a matter of days the nation has recorded two fatal boat mishaps in Anambra and Rivers States.

He said that with the two incidents in Umumu-Anam, Anambra State and Andoni-Bonny coastal waters in Rivers State on Friday and Tuesday morning respectively claiming almost 20 lives certainly not a good report for the Agency.

The NIWA boss stressed that the management would evolve a number of measures to address the situation and assuage the challenges as part of measures to reposition the Agency.

“In repositioning NIWA, the first thing that agitates my mind is safety. In the last couple of months, we have seen a series of boat mishaps. This is uncalled for. This is criminal.

“I can tell you that there is going to be a committee going forward, to handle safety and registration of boats and it is even going to partner with the local boat builders to make sure that we have boats that are standardized.

He said that only trained boat drivers would be allowed to handle and ply the waterways to limit incidences of boat mishaps adding that there would be Rescue Committee “that is agile, that is vibrant and can be tested anytime.”

Speaking on the Performance Bond, the MD said his expectations from NIWA staff is that since they had keyed-in and signed the bond, they would achieve the best for NIWA.

“They will achieve the best for the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and at the same time, achieve the best for Nigeria, keying into the vision of the President of the Republic of Nigeria.

“So expect new NIWA, expect a repositioned NIWA going forward”, he said.

On the potentials of the the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Oyebamiji said the Ministry would carry out the commercial leg of governance, adding that there were more resources in the Marine and Blue Economy far better and higher than oil.

“I can assure you that the Minister is positioned and we are going to partner with investors, mostly local and foreign investors, to drive the opportunities in the Marine and Blue economy.

“There is a reason Mr President created that Ministry. The Ministry is going to add its value to the Nigerian economy. There is going to be a lot of things. Employment is going to be created. The Ministry is going to add to the GDP of Nigeria.

“The Ministry is going to add value, especially in areas such as fisheries, aquaculture and so many other areas that have been planned in the roadmap of the Ministry.

“I can assure you that in the next couple of months and years, you will see the indicators that the Ministry is firmly rooted to drive the Nigerian economy”, he said.

Highlight of the two-day Special Retreat/workshop was the signing of the Performance Bond by the General Managers with the Managing Director after exhaustive capacity building training in the new Performance Management System (PMS). (Ends)