By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has pledged to work tirelessly to harness ocean resources in raising the authority’s contribution to the Nigerian economy by increasing its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
This was disclosed by NIWA’s Managing Director, Mr Bola Oyebamiji, in a chat with newsmen shortly after the organisation’s 3-Day Special Retreat held at Edge Drive Hotel, Lokoja, Kogi.
The managing director explained that the agency’s work would be targeted at boosting the nation’s economy while ensuring safe water transportation.
The authority’s general and area managers signed a bond with the managing director at the retreat towards better performance and service delivery as public servants.
“We have to do this because the honourable minister of marine and blue economy with the permanent secretary signed a performance bond with the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“This bond is to measure performance, evaluate performance, and see that all the ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria key into the vision of the Federal Government.
“At the same time, they are expected to achieve the best in line with the thematics of Mr President.
“Therefore, my expectations from NIWA staff that have already signed the performance bond with me is for them to achieve the best for NIWA in all areas.
“This is because Marine and Blue Economy is a ministry that is going to carry out the commercial leg of governance, and I can assure you that the minister is positioned for that,” he said.
Mr Oyebamiji said that the authority would partner with investors, local and foreign, to drive the opportunities in the ministry, and boost the economy by generating huge revenue.
He said that this was the reason President Bola Tinubu created the ministry was to add value to the Nigerian economy, especially at a crucial time when the country needed revenue.
He noted that there were going to be a lot of benefits to the citizens, such as employment creation and boosting the nation’s GDP, saying, “The ministry is going to add value, especially in the areas of fisheries, aquaculture, and so many others that have been planned in its roadmap.
“I can assure you that in the next couple of months and years, you will see the indicators that the ministry is firmly rooted to drive the Nigerian economy.”
Mr Oyebamiji stressed that it expected the staff to achieve the best for the Ministry, while also achieving the best for Nigeria’s desired growth and development, stating that in his effort to reposition NIWA, the first thing that agitated his mind was safety.
According to him, in the last couple of months, the agency has seen a series of boat mishaps.
“I can tell you that there is going to be a committee going forward that is going to handle safety, registration of boats and partnering with the local boat builders to ensure standard boats.
“We have drivers of these boats that are trained, and we have a rescue committee that is agile, vibrant, and can be tested anytime for the safe movement of people and goods on the waterways, ” he said.
