No Compromise on Safety – NIWA Chief, Shagari warns inland water users

The new chairman of the Board of the National inland Waterways Authority( NIWA), Alhaji Muktar Shehu Shagari said the Board will strengthen enforcement of safety regulations to mitigate the rate of accidents on the nation’s inland waterways. The Board chairman disclosed this in Lokoja while addressing the top management team of NIWA on Thursday at […]

The new chairman of the Board of the National inland Waterways Authority( NIWA), Alhaji Muktar Shehu Shagari said the Board will strengthen enforcement of safety regulations to mitigate the rate of accidents on the nation’s inland waterways.

The Board chairman disclosed this in Lokoja while addressing the top management team of NIWA on Thursday at its head office in Lokoja, led by the Acting Managing Director/CEO , Umar Yusuf Girei.

He said the new Board will strive to improve monitoring systems, and promote a culture of professionalism across all NIWA operations to improve its service delivery.

“The work before us is significant, but so is our potential. Nigeria’s waterways hold enormous opportunities for transportation, agriculture, tourism, and energy. With unity, professionalism, and commitment, NIWA can become a flagship agency for federal reform and national progress.

“Let me assure you that the Board stands ready to support the Management and Staff as we together chart a new course for NIWA, one rooted in service, innovation, and renewed hope for our
country”, he said.

In going forward, Alhaji Shehu Shagari emphasizes on three priorities that will guide works under his mandate : Operational Efficiency & Safety, Infrastructure Modernization
Operational Efficiency & Safety , and Staff Welfare & Institutional Discipline.

Alhaji Shagari stressed : “We will strengthen enforcement of safety regulations, improve monitoring systems, and promote a culture of professionalism across all NIWA operations. Every life lost on our waterways is one too many. Under this Board, safety is not negotiable.

“In line with the President’s drive for economic expansion, NIWA will intensify efforts to dredge critical channels, rehabilitate jetties, and expand facilities that support transportation, logistics, and trade.

“We must ensure that inland waterways become a reliable alternative to the overstretched road network.

“No institution can rise above the quality of its people. We will continue to support training, reward excellence, and uphold fairness in career progression.

“At the same time, we will insist on discipline, accountability, and ethical conduct at all levels. Renewed Hope must reflect in our character, not only our projects”.

In his remarks, the Acting Managing Director/CEO, Umar Yusuf Girei said all over the years, NIWA has raised its standards to transform Nigeria’s inland waterways into safe, efficient, and economically vibrant corridors of national development.

He stressed that all departments in the organization work collaboratively to ensure the effective delivery of NIWA’s mandate in line with national development goals ,and the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.

However, the Acting managing Director raised issues of funding, operational/ Jurisdiction conflicts and lack of infrastructure on navigable waterways as challenges confronting the organization that need serious attention for an improve services .

“The Authority’s major constraint is lack of adequate funding, especially as it relates to Capital Projects and overhead. In addition, approved funds are either not wholly released or not released on time, besides the fund’s inadequacy, thus resulting to undue delay in project execution”, he said .

Comrade latifa Usman and Zakari Yusuf, who represented both unions in the organization expressed hope of great changes ahead , stressing that the new board chairman has the necessary connections to turn things around for good in the nearest future.