The Acting Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Malam Umar Yusuf Girei, said the Authority is committed to closely working with the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to improve safety and reduce the incidence of boat mishaps across Nigeria’s Inland Waterways.

Girei made the pledge when he received the Director General of the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) on a courtesy visit at the NIWA Headquarters in Lokoja, Kogi State.

The NIWA Acting MD stressed the importance of collaboration, information sharing, and joint operational efforts between both agencies in addressing the persistent challenge of boat accidents on the nation’s waterways.

He noted that effective cooperation among relevant stakeholders remains essential to ensuring safer navigation and protecting lives and properties.

According to him, NIWA is dedicated to strengthening partnerships with Agencies to improve safety standards and enforce regulations for safer water transportation in Nigeria. He further assured the NSIB delegation of NIWA’s readiness to share relevant information, technical expertise, and operational support to facilitate timely investigations into marine incidents and develop preventive measures aimed at reducing future occurrences.

Earlier, the DG of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Captain Alex Sabundu Badeh Jnr. stated that, the visit was aimed at strengthening the existing relationship between both agencies and exploring areas of collaboration in accident investigation, data sharing, and safety promotion among others. The DG therefore, presented the activities and achievements of the Agency in safety investigations across Air, water, Rail and other subsector in the country.

Suleiman Makama
AGM Corporate Affairs
22/7/2026