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Press Statement on Boat Mishap that occurred at Munyan Local Government Area, Niger State

The Management of the National Inland Waterways Authority wishes to commiserate with the government and people of Niger State, and in particular, the families of those that lost loved ones in the recent boat mishap that occurred at Kija in Munyan Local Government Area.

The Authority is particularly pained by the unwarranted loss of lives and property due to disregard for established rules and regulations guiding passenger ferry operations in the country. For safety reasons, night sailing is banned; the use of life jackets and other life-saving appliances is mandatory, even as over-loading of boats is a criminal offence. Yet boat skippers and crew are fond of flouting these rules. Nevertheless, NIWA will continue to engage in aggressive enlightenment and education of ferry operators and passengers alike.

While extending our condolences once again, we shall investigate this incident to unravel the immediate and remote causes, with a view to preventing a re-occurrence of similar incidents. We wish therefore to urge boat operators to abide by all safety requirements.

Signed:
Chief Dr. George N. Moghalu Managing Director/CEO
11th May, 2021

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NIWA BOARD TO SUPPORT MANAGEMENT AS MD ASSURES STAFF OF BETTER WELFARE

The chairman Board of Directors of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) Vice Admiral I.I Ibrahim (Rtd) has pledged the Board’s support to the Management of the Authority to succeed.

The Chairman expressed this in his address at the NIWA 2020 end of the year get together and sent forth for all 2020 retired staff of the Authority at the Headquarters in Lokoja.

He said NIWA is a family and must keep the flag flying high. He encouraged staff on efficiency and dedication to their duties.

He added that the board will strive to sustain and support the Management to achieve what has not been achieved before and advised the retirees not to worry since they have worked hard.

Delivering his speech, the Managing Director of NIWA Chief Dr. George Moghalu thanked the Board members for gracing the occasion to honour and send forth the retired staff.

The MD disclosed that a new innovation has been introduced in recognizing not only the retired General Managers as done in the past, but also all retired staff that have served the Authority meritoriously.

He also added that he wants to leave a legacy of NIWA as a family “we should love and appreciate each other” he thanked all NIWA staff despite all the challenges of COVID 19 in 2020 and prayed that 2021 will be a glorious year.

As part of the management’s effort to motivate staff to put in their best and optimum performance in the development and growth of NIWA, awards and gifts were presented to the best performing Area office (Hadeija Jammare Area office in Kano State) which comprises of a plaque and a token of One Hundred Thousand Naira Only (N100,000) in recognition of their outstanding performance in surpassing their revenue target in the year 2020 despite all odds. While Mr. Ibrahim M.M Onimisi of Lagos Area Office emerged as the best staff of the year 2020 and was awarded with a plaque and a token of Fifty Thousand Naira only (N50,000) in recognition of his outstanding performance.

Equally, all the six retired General Managers went with a gift of a Plasma Television set each, while other retired staff went with a plaque in appreciation to their meritorious services to the Authority.

Amongst the highlights of the events was dinner served to all staff and invited guests.

Signed:
Jibril Darda’u
GM (Corporate Affairs)

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NIWA TO COLLABORATE WITH PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY PROGRAM TO SECURE INLAND WATERWAYS

In his quest to enhance security on inland waterways, the Managing Director National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) Chief Dr. George Moghalu paid a courtesy visit to the Coordinator Presidential Amnesty Program Colonel Milland Dikio Dixon in his office in Abuja.

In his speech, NIWA Managing Director who was accompanied by his management team said “we are here to collaborate, synergise and look for areas of partnership with the Presidential Amnesty Program in order to provide adequate security on NIWA facilities in the Niger-Delta Area and to also build confidence in stakeholders that our waterways is crime free.” He added that this visit is part of his security stratagems by engaging all the relevant security forces, such as the police and Navy to beef up the security on the waterways.

Responding, the Coordinator Presidential Amnesty Program Colonel Milland Dikio Dixon thanked NIWA’s MD for the visit and said “I am very happy with your coming, the amnesty program is also willing to meet with NIWA to look at areas of partnership in order to provide and create jobs for the Niger-Delta youths.”

Earlier, the Managing Director NIWA congratulated Colonel Milland on his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari as the Coordinator Presidential Amnesty Program and also describes it as a well-deserved appointment considering his past records.

Signed:
Jibril Darda’u
GM Corporate Affairs

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Maritime Agencies Synergise for Safety of Waterways, improved Transportation

The Maritime agencies in the country on Thursday resolved to ensure security and safety on waterways for improved water transportation through adequate collaboration and synergy.

Dr George Moghalu, Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) disclosed this at the end of the Third Monthly Meeting of Chief Executives of Maritime Agencies in Lokoja.

Moghalu said the Chief Executives of the agencies discussed issues relating to maritime security and safety, capacity building and enforcement of security protocols, to reduce the carnage on the nation’s waterways.

“This is our routine meeting which from the point when we started, is aimed at building synergy by coming together, taking our policies together, to see how we can work together for the benefit of our nation, Nigeria.’’

According to him, the CEOs at the meeting constituted a committee on the multimodal approach to cargo delivery, to enhance seaport and dryport operations.

“We are looking at what we can do to harmonise the operations of all maritime agencies in the country to better the maritime industry, especially in the area of movement of cargo between the waterports.’’

He said that there was a need for effective water transportation in view of the positive impact it would make on the economy, in reducing ports congestion and haulage of heavy-duty goods through the roads.

On frequent capsizing of boats and mishaps on the Waterways and safety measures, he noted that only last week, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency/ (NIMASA) organised a “world-class safety and security conference” in the country.

“The Safety issue is not peculiar to our Waterways, we also have security challenges on land but the important thing is that government is conscious of this fact.

“Agencies of government are also conscious of this fact. Gunboats have been acquired, NIMASA is also doing a lot in that direction.’’

Moghalu urged the citizens to play roles expected of them and obey basic rules and regulations laid down by NIWA, as he attributed the incessant boat mishaps to non-compliance by boat riders.

Agencies present at the meeting included NIWA, NIMASA, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Shippers Council and the Federal Ministry of Transport, among others. (NAN)

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NIWA Commissions 36 Seater Ferry Boat at Yelwa-Yauri, Kebbi State

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has commissioned a 36 seater ferry boat at Yelwa – Yauri, Kebbi State.

In his opening remarks, The Managing Director of NIWA, Chief Dr. George Moghalu thanked God for the opportunity given to the Authority to procure the 36 seater ferry boat on behalf of Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah as part of his constituency project.

The MD appreciated the distinguished Senator for his commitment and desire to create the enabling environment for water transportation to grow. Moghalu also acknowledged the kind support given to NIWA by the Yauri Emirate council in fulfilling its official responsibilities.

He further stated that the importance of water transportation could not be over emphasized for both facilitating the transportation of cargos and personnel in strengthening Nigeria’s economy and at the same time exploring tourism potentials of water transportation.

The MD appealed to the government of Kebbi State to encourage NIWA by assisting it to ensure companies, organizations and the public using NIWA’s right of way, which is one hundred metres perpendicular from the point of river, pay their legitimate fees.

In his speech, Sen. Bala Ibn Na’Allah promised to bring more developments to his people as the ferry being commissioned is just the beginning, as two more ferries are on their way coming, one from Lagos and the other from China. He also said, in addition to the Jetties he has built before in the area, he is also planning in conjunction with NIWA to build a ferry terminal.

Thereafter, the Emir of Yelwa – Yauri, HRH. Dr. Muhammed Zayyanu Abdullahi (CON) cut the tape to commission the new ferry boat and there was a boat ride in compliance with the Covid-19 safety protocols.

Earlier, the Managing Director paid a courtesy call to the Emir of Yauri, in which during the visit the Emir raised three critical issues in the areas of litigations, clearing of water hyacinth/removal of wrecks and the development of the Inland Waterways for the optimum benefit of his people.

Responding, the MD promised to address all the issues raised by the Royal Father.

Signed:
Jibril, Darda’u
Ag. GM (Corporate Affairs)