By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
The Acting Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Alhaji Umar Yusuf Girei, has unveiled a reform-focused agenda aimed at strengthening revenue generation, blocking leakages and improving service delivery across Nigeria’s inland waterways.
Speaking at NIWA headquarters in Lokoja, Girei briefed journalists on the outcome of a two-day Executive Anti-Corruption Training held in Abuja for board members, management staff and Area Managers.
The training, themed “The Art and Practice of System Integrity in Public Institutions,” was organised in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), underscoring the Authority’s renewed emphasis on transparency and institutional discipline.
Girei said the initiative signals a decisive shift towards accountability and performance-based management, noting that revenue optimisation remains central to NIWA’s transformation drive.
“Every institution survives on revenue. Without financial strength, growth is impossible. This exercise has helped us identify systemic gaps and practical steps to eliminate corruption while enhancing internally generated revenue,” he stated.
He described the anti-corruption training as part of a broader governance overhaul designed to entrench internal controls, reinforce ethical standards and reposition the Authority for optimal performance.
Looking ahead, the Acting MD disclosed that the 2026 NIWA Management Retreat will consolidate the reform momentum by aligning the Board and management around shared strategic goals.
According to him, the retreat will deepen collaboration, foster policy coherence and ensure that all arms of the Authority work in synergy to deliver measurable outcomes.
“Our goal is simple — to build a transparent, accountable and results-driven institution capable of fulfilling its mandate efficiently,” Girei said.
He added that the reforms align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that NIWA is committed to supporting national development through improved inland water transport management and enhanced revenue performance.
Girei reaffirmed the Authority’s resolve to strengthen institutional integrity while delivering safer, more efficient waterways services nationwide.
