Absence of Substantive NIWA MD, Fuels Boat Mishaps on Nation’s Waterways - Maritime Union

The Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA), stakeholders and users of the Nigerian waterways have frowned at the absence of substantive Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) for the past six months.

Recall, that, President Muhammadu Buhari had in October last year, appointed Boss Mustapha, former MD of NIWA, as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

In a chat, the group argued that the absence of a substantive MD had considerably affected the smooth operation of the agency and fuelled rate of accident on the nation’s inland waterways

The Auditor, Trade Union Congress (TUC), charged the Federal Government to appoint a substantive Chief Executive Officer to head NIWA as the agency could not effectively perform its regulatory role without a managing director.

Alalade who is also the President of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA) further faulted the failure of government to appoint a new managing director before the inauguration of agency’s governing Board.

He therefore, charged the government to as a matter of urgency, appoint a technocrat versed in maritime activities as new CEO of NIWA.

According to Alalade, six months without a substantive head would drag NIWA operations backward and make the relationship between the board and the acting management awkward.

He stated that the delay by government to appoint a substantive head constitutes a clog in the wheel of progress of activities in inland water transportation in the country.

“It is not proper for such an agency to exist without a substantive head for six months after the exit of Boss Mustapha”.

“Maybe the government of the day does not regard NIWA as a vital agency in the transportation ministry. That is why they are not bothered in anyway to appoint a new MD to replace somebody like Boss Mustapha who is still at the heart of the Buhari administration”

Alalade stated that appointing a CEO with marine transportation experience would better the lots of seafarers and the economy in general.