The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy (FMM&BE), Hajiya Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, has engaged the leadership of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to strengthen safety awareness and enhance service delivery across Nigeria’s inland waterways.
Held in Abuja, the session provided Mahmood with an overview of NIWA’s operations and examined how its programmes align with the Ministry’s mandate under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Acting Managing Director, Alhaji Yusuf Umar Girei, presented NIWA’s core mandate, vision, mission, achievements, and challenges. He highlighted issues as ongoing initiatives with measurable impact, sustained collaboration with the private sector to improve efficiency and expand service delivery. He also hinted that efforts are on to unlock the economic potential of inland waterways through improved navigation, infrastructure, and safety standards. ,
Mahmood commended NIWA’s progress but stressed the need to intensify safety sensitisation campaigns, urging the Authority to extend outreach to religious centres to reach more water users. She further encouraged stronger collaboration with sister agencies, investment in human capital development, greater media engagement for public enlightenment, and
regular updates to the Ministry on NIWA’s activities and milestones.
Attendees include personnel of Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy
– Hajiya Kalthum Ibrahim (Director, Planning, Research & Statistics), Mr. Oyinloye Adeola Meshack (Director, Maritime Services), and other staff from the Office of the Permanent Secretary.
NIWA Delegation include Barrister Naziru Biyankare (GM, Legal Services),
– Dan’Azumi Muazu (GM, Planning, Research & Statistics),
– Engr. Dakio Horsefall (GM, Marine Services),
– Engr. Fidelis Ejike (GM, Engineering Services), and Surv. Henry Adimoha (GM, Survey Services).