The Chairman , Governing Board of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, has moved to deepen international collaboration to accelerate development of Nigeria’s inland waterways following a strategic meeting with Professor Maximo Q. Mejia Jr., President of the World Maritime University (WMU), during the ongoing IMO Council session in London.
Held on Monday July 6 2026, , the discussion focused on tapping global expertise to support inland waterways development, maritime education, capacity building and sustainable transport systems across Nigeria.
Shagari, who led NIWA’s acting Managing Director, Yusuf Girei, to the meeting, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to modernising waterways infrastructure and building the skilled workforce needed to unlock the sector’s economic potential.
Shagari highlighted the country’s extensive inland network as a major asset for transportation, trade and the blue economy, and said strategic partnerships with internationally recognised maritime institutions are essential to improve safety, efficiency and commercial activity on Nigeria’s waterways.
He stressed that closer cooperation in research, training and knowledge exchange will equip Nigerian maritime professionals with the technical competencies required to meet emerging industry challenges and align national practice with global standards.
Professor Mejia pledged WMU’s continued support for member states through education, research and capacity development, praising Nigeria’s growing emphasis on maritime development and signalling readiness to expand collaboration with relevant Nigerian agencies and stakeholders.
He underscored that durable maritime growth depends on investments in human capital, innovation and adherence to international norms.
Both leaders discussed opportunities to develop specialised training programmes, academic exchanges and institutional links designed to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime administration and inland waterways management framework.
Maritime stakeholders described the engagement as a constructive move to connect Nigeria’s inland waterways sector with global centres of excellence and secure international best practices for water transport development.
The meeting formed part of a series of high-level engagements at the IMO Council session, where global maritime leaders are advancing policies to promote safer, more secure and environmentally sustainable shipping.
