Walking the talk: Marine ministry pushes safety drive as mahmood meets NIWA management

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

In a renewed push to improve safety and service delivery across Nigeria’s inland waterways, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Hajiya Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, has engaged the management of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) on deepening safety awareness and strengthening operational efficiency nationwide.

Mahmood further in her remarks commended NIWA’s efforts, however stressed the need to intensify safety sensitisation, particularly at the grassroots.

Hajia Tabi’a Mohammad and Alhaji Umar Girei

She urged the Authority to extend awareness campaigns to religious centres as a way of reaching a broader spectrum of water users and operators.

The Permanent Secretary called for stronger collaboration with sister agencies, enhanced human capital development, proactive engagement with the media for public enlightenment, and regular performance updates to the Ministry to ensure effective oversight and policy support.

The strategic engagement, held in Abuja, provided an opportunity for Mahmood to familiarise herself with NIWA’s operations while assessing how the authority’s programmes align with the ministry’s mandate under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The NIWA’s Acting Managing Director, Alhaji Yusuf Umar Girei, who led the management team in presenting an overview of the Authority’s mandate, vision and mission at the meeting, highlighting key achievements and operational challenges.

He noted that NIWA has continued to roll out initiatives with measurable impact, driven by policy alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Girei emphasised the Authority’s sustained collaboration with the private sector, describing such partnerships as critical to enhancing efficiency, expanding service delivery, and unlocking the vast economic potential of Nigeria’s inland waterways through improved navigation, infrastructure development and safety standards.

Officials from the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy at the meeting included Hajiya Kalthum Ibrahim, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics; Mr. Oyinloye Adeola Meshack, Director of Maritime Services Department; and other senior staff of the Office of the Permanent Secretary.

NIWA’s delegation comprised Barrister Naziru Biyankare, General Manager, Legal Services; Dan’Azumi Muazu, General Manager, Planning, Research and Statistics; Engr. Dakio Horsefall, General Manager, Marine Services; Engr. Fidelis Ejike, General Manager, Engineering Services; and Surv. Henry Adimoha, General Manager, Survey Services.

The engagement signals a renewed focus by the Ministry on safety, collaboration and accountability as it works with NIWA to reposition Nigeria’s inland waterways as a safer and more efficient pillar of the nation’s marine and blue economy.

NIWA it will be recalled has banned unlicensed boat operations to improve waterway safety. The Authority has introduced certification programmes for boat operators to ensure formal training. It has as well distributed life jackets and launched safety campaigns to promote waterway safety.