MAN calls for professional MD

…Bemoans NIWA’s erstwhile Managing Director

By Abiodun OBA

A Maritime group known as Maritime Ambassador of Nigeria (MAN), has described the immediate past Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) as the worst Managing Director the organisation ever had.

The group stated on Monday at the sideline of the expiration of Moghalu’s exit from NIWA, as MD/CEO, alleging that he hurriedly handed over last week Friday in Lokoja, the agency’s headquarters.

“From Mr. Aminu Yar’adua to Hajia Mariam Inna Ciroma, to Boss Mustapha, who later became the Secretary to Federal Government (SGF), and Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora, who was later appointed as Minister for Health; none of those were professionals.

“The worst of them all is George Moghalu who was rewarded for losing election in Anambra State. Moghalu, since his appointment on October 7, 2019, has no interest in NIWA issues. He was always away politicking about becoming governor of Anambra. It is a great relief that he was not reappointed”.

Spokesperson of the group, Yekeen Abdullahi said such political patronage has hindered the agency from fulfilling her mandates.

They said that the challenges facing NIWA can only be solved by entrenching the culture of appointing professionals, who have come through the ranks, to lead the NIWA.

According to the group, previous MDs failed to live up to expectations, because rather than appoint professionals, NIWA headship became political patronage.

The group therefore, called on the Federal Government (FG), to appoint a professional as substantive Managing Director for the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) for effective service delivery.

This according to them, will be in tandem and complimentary to the newly established Ministry of Blue Economy, under President Bola Tinubu.

The statement read: “It is of great concern to us that NIWA has been singled out for political patronage. How can a nonprofessional address the numerous challenges of the maritime industry? It is a long-time established axiom that no one can give what he doesn’t have.

“When an agency is turned into a place where people are being rewarded when they lose elections, or reserved for political patronage, then the focus and main objective of such agency is lost.

“It is quite disturbing that NIWA has been singled out for political patronage. It is basically garbage in and garbage out, and such a system will not last, because there is no focused leadership. You cannot expect to get a different result if you’re doing the same thing over and over again.

“However, we urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to do right by the agency. There are many professionals in NIWA who are already at directors’ level. Amongst them is Adetola Olawale James, the most senior of all the directors. Mr. Adetola has held different managerial positions in the agency and presently the Acting MD. A young, vibrant, articulate, and professional to the core like, Adetola will definitely turn around NIWA for good if appointed substantive Managing Director.

“Having a professional as NIWA’s head will help put a structure in place. There will be knowledge transfer and the workers will be able to improve themselves.

“The government of President Tinubu should look at raising people from within to be in charge of NIWA; until then, there will not be any positive results to the numerous issues the agency’s facing.”

However, in his reaction, NIWA’s General Manager, (Corporate Affairs), Dar-Dau Jibril, refuted the claim that Moghalu under-performed.

He said the immediate NIWA MD did his best within the timeframe he was saddled with the agency’s responsibilities.

“Yes, let us be sincere with ourselves, he (Moghalu) is a politician. Before him, there were others, who were appointed likewise, Mrs. Ciroma was PDP and wife of the then party chairman, Boss Mustapha came, of course, he was from the CPC, he left to become the SFG. Mamora came too, he was ACN and later went to be minister. Moghalu was ANPP, he contested governorship in Anambra, and of course, later became MD (NIWA).

“Let us be sincere with ourselves, everyone was even surprised that he was not reappointed. Moghalu was a workaholic, he never left any paper overnight on his table unattended to. He did not move NIWA backward. He was hardworking.”

Some staff of the agency, however, controverted the PRO’s position, saying Moghalu rather destroyed NIWA, alleging among others, that he was more interested in contract awards.