29th June, 2022
Richard Elesho
Dr. George Moghalu, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, MD/CEO, of the authority of Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, has disclosed that most of the vessels in use by the organisation are locally manufactured.
Moghalu said this while speaking on Tuesday during the inaugural meeting of the new NIWA Board held at its headquarter in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
He called on the Federal Government to give the necessary support in order to strengthen the local manufacturing industry.
The MD listed problems of the parastatal to include decayed infrastructure, weak legal framework, conflicts and litigations with some state governments, inadequate human capital trainings, and poor funding.
The new board Chairman, Senator Binta Masi Garba in her address commended NIWA for the strides it has recorded since her establishment in 1997. She called for a minute silence in honour of former staff and board members who have passed on to glory.
Binta noted that Nigeria is blessed with over 10,000 kilometres of waterways out of which only about 30 percent is navigable. She said her focus is how to make more kilometres of waterways all year round navigable. She said all hands must be on deck to achieve the mandate.
“This is a very big task placed on the authority, therefore all hands must be on deck to achieve the desired goals. In this new world of fragmented leadership, a role of the board is more important than ever. As a neutral platform for dialogue and collaboration as well as a place to openly share ideas, experiences and discuss solutions.
She added that “we will from time to time bring together stakeholders, operators, multilateral agencies and academics to discuss solutions.’