NIWA Gets All Time Low Ranking Performance Under Oyebamiji , As Stakeholders Say MD Not Living Up To Expectation

By Roland Ekama

Worried about operational activities within the brown waters across the nation’s littoral states, stakeholders have raised concerns about the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) unsatisfactory performance since the appointment of its Managing Director , Munirudeen Oyebamiji .

Since his appointment back in October 2023
as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), stakeholders comprising mariners , seafarers’ and boat operators continued to observe the performances of agencies under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, even as they accentuate Oyebamiji agency as the least performer under the Bola Tinubu administration.

According to them , the Executive Secretary CEO Nigerian Shippers Council Barrister Pius Akutah and Director General,Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr.. Dayo Mobereola have shown some level of commitment, thus hit the ground running since their respective appointments, hence describing NIWA’s performance as sedentary.

Due to poor performance in the last eight months, industry watchers further advocated for the unbundling of NIWA , stressing the need for the authority to be absorbed by either the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA or NIMASA.

Sequel to frequent respondents by operators in the maritime sector, there are indications that the MD of NIWA is unfamiliar to his scope and jurisdiction of responsibilities.

A cross section of stakeholders who spoke with DAILYFOCUS NIGERIA  expressed disappointment on NIWAs performance under the current Managing Director .

They lamented that the MD NIWA is unknown to the industry, urging him to prove a point against the backdrop of numerous challenges bedeviling inland waterways activities.

Engineer Matthew Alalade , former National President, Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA) lamented that the NIWA boss has failed to perform since his appointment by President Bola Tinubu.

Alalade who is a seasoned mariners, lamented that despite comprehensive and detailed information released by some institutions, about figures of incessant boat mishaps and death cases recorded across littoral states, no action has been taken by NIWA’s management

Declining to react on burning issues like continuous training and retraining of personnel and stakeholders on Inland waters affairs, the Mariner reiterated that safety is paramount ,’hence the need for capacity building and manpower development which in turn would curb the cases of mishaps on the brown waters.

Alalade alleged that boat operators mostly captains are exposed to drug and alcohol intake before sailing, calling on the authority to dismantle joints surrounding the jetties where such items are sold .

He alleged that intake of substance by the captains contributed to accidents on the waterways, stressing the need for NIWA to up the ante on its monitoring and enforcement drive.

Alalade stated that the MD is shying away from his responsibilities as the NIWA helmsman, saying issues bothering on safety and communication is next to zero percentage in terms of performance.

The ex- Merchant Navy boss further urged management of NIWA led by the former Commissioner of Osun State to look inward and carry out on the spot inspection on condition of boats navigating the waterways .

“NIWA under the current MD is not living up to stakeholders expectation. The boat operators in Nigeria are not seriously regulated. We cannot entrust the lives of passengers in the hands of those who are drunk or under the influence of alcohol.

“Aside that , these operators are not trained properly and it is expected that NIWA should train them regularly.

“I don’t think NIWA has that capability to train them regularly, therefore NPA or NIMASA should absorb NIWA and take responsibilities on Inland waterways activities.”Alalade maintained.

Similarly, a top Mariner who prefers anonymity appealed to the management of NIWA to step up its performance on safety and monitoring of boat operators adding that “Some ferries are out of class yet operate within the waters.

” There is the need to also carry out intensive monitoring at night because some boat operators are out there late at the night”,he added.

In his ranking , the mariner declared that NIWA has a track record of under performance noting that the authority is inactive to addressing the numerous challenges affecting waterways.

He added that the Lagos State Waterways Authority LASWA is better equipped and visible within Lagos inland waters.

Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji assumed duty as the 8th Managing Director/CEO of NIWA on October 30, 2023.

In his meeting with workers, Oyebamiji in his engagement warned management and staff against corruption and charged them to work hard to achieve the authority’s goals.

He was part of the delegation of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to the recently concluded UNGA ’78 led by the Minister , Gboyega Oyetola.