Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Barrister Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, has pledged a comprehensive upgrade of the Authority’s ageing infrastructure, the gradual phase-out of unsafe boats, and stronger collaboration with stakeholders to unlock the economic potential of Nigeria’s inland waterways.

Shagari made the commitment on Wednesday , July 15th, 2026 during an inspection tour of NIWA’s facilities and ongoing projects in Lagos.

The tour, which covered the Authority’s Lagos Area Office in Marina, was conducted alongside members of the Governing Board and the Managing Director of NIWA, Engr. Yusuf Gerie.

Addressing journalists after the inspection, Shagari explained that the visit formed part of the Board’s nationwide assessment of NIWA’s operations and infrastructure with a view to identifying priority areas requiring intervention.

He disclosed that one of the Board’s first decisions after its inauguration was to undertake a comprehensive review of the Authority’s facilities across the country to facilitate the rehabilitation of dilapidated offices and jetties, while expanding critical inland water transport infrastructure.

“We have made provisions in our budget to address infrastructure challenges across our offices and jetties nationwide.

We want all NIWA facilities to be functional, presentable and capable of supporting efficient service delivery,” he said.

The Board Chairman added that the Authority plans to increase the number of jetties nationwide, particularly in Lagos, to meet the growing demand for water transportation and improve connectivity across inland waterways.

On funding, Shagari acknowledged the need for continued government support but stressed that NIWA was equally focused on boosting its internally generated revenue through stronger stakeholder engagement and partnerships with relevant agencies.

He also reaffirmed the Authority’s determination to strengthen regulatory enforcement, especially against illegal jetties and unsafe operations.

According to him, NIWA is collaborating with security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, to improve compliance with water transport regulations and enhance safety on the nation’s waterways.

Expressing concern over the continued use of ageing boats by commercial operators, Shagari described many of the vessels currently operating on Nigerian waterways as obsolete and unfit for modern water transportation.

“We are committed to phasing out unsafe vessels and replacing them with safer and more modern alternatives.

“The safety of Nigerians on our waterways remains a top priority,” he declared.

He further revealed that NIWA is exploring the acquisition of modern vessels and will work closely with indigenous boat builders and other stakeholders to improve the quality, safety and reliability of water transport services.

Shagari emphasized that developing safer and more navigable inland waterways would significantly reduce transportation costs, ease pressure on the nation’s road network, facilitate the movement of goods and passengers, and stimulate economic growth.

He therefore called for increased private sector participation in dredging, infrastructure development and water transportation services, noting that the sustainable development of the inland waterways sector requires strong public-private collaboration.

Earlier, the Managing Director of NIWA, Engr. Yusuf Gerie, said the facility tour was designed to give the Board firsthand insight into operations at the Lagos Area Office and enable it to identify practical measures for improving the Authority’s performance nationwide.

Gerie commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for assembling what he described as a team of experienced professionals and technocrats capable of repositioning NIWA and advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda within the marine and blue economy sector.

In her welcome address, the Lagos Area Manager, Engr. Sarat Braimah, described Lagos as the hub of Nigeria’s inland water transportation, stressing that the Area Office remains committed to promoting safety, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency and infrastructure development on the nation’s busiest waterways.

She expressed confidence that the Board’s visit would further strengthen ongoing efforts to improve service delivery and enhance the Authority’s operational performance.

Monday Discourse with  Ibrahim Nasiru

Let’s be completely honest about why food prices are killing us in Nigeria right now. Everyone is yelling about poor farm yields, expensive fertilizer, and bad weather.

But there is a massive, quiet killer that nobody seems to want to talk about: the absolute nightmare of moving food from point A to point B.

Right now, we push over 80 percent of our freight onto broken roads. Think about a truck driver hauling tomatoes from a farm up North down to Mile 12 market in Lagos.

Between the collapsing asphalt, the endless security checkpoints, and the agbero extortion, those trucks sit for days in the heat. Half the food rots before it even hits a consumer’s plate.

That rot is basically a hidden tax that makes every single plate of food in this country more expensive. If we want to fix hunger, we have to look past our ocean coastlines and fix the logistics channels right inside our own backyard.

True food security is going to live or die by how we use our inland waterways and dry Ports.

Moving things by water is just common sense because it is drastically cheaper than burning diesel on a highway.

The Niger and Benue rivers are sitting right there—natural blue highways connecting rural farming communities straight to major commercial hubs.

If we can move bulk grains, yams, and livestock on barges instead of trailers, we instantly slash the cost of logistics.

When transport costs drop, market prices drop, simple. Plus, if we actually invest in river Ports with proper cold-storage docks, we can finally stop losing 40 percent of our harvests to post-harvest rot.

Then you look at our Inland Dry Ports in places like Kaduna, Funtua, Jos, and Kano. Right now, people only think of them as places for handling customs paperwork and international shipping containers.

That is a massive waste of potential. These dry Ports need to become major, decentralized food hubs.

Imagine a dry Port equipped with massive grain silos, modern food processing plants, and direct rail links. Instead of a desperate farmer selling their harvest for pennies to a predatory middleman because they are scared the food will spoil, the dry Port gives them a place to store, grade, and ship their produce safely based on real demand.

But let’s talk about the elephant in the room: money and politics.

The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is operating on tight budget realities, making it incredibly hard to fund these critical infrastructure and safety upgrades quickly.

On top of that, bureaucratic source-deductions by the Accountant-General keep choking the cash flow of the very maritime agencies trying to do the work.

The federal government cannot finance this alone. We desperately need real Public-Private Partnerships.

We need to give private investors a reason to build the specialized agricultural docks, cold-storage warehouses, and barges we actually need.

At the same time, we have to stop the madness of regulatory turf wars. Right now, agencies like NIWA and the Shippers’ Council are tripping over each other, creating multiple transport levies that do nothing but inflate the final cost of food.

You cannot solve a food crisis on the farm alone. Food security is entirely dependent on transport efficiency. It is time for the government to stop treating agriculture and maritime as two separate worlds.

If we clear the channel and get our waterways and dry Ports working for our food supply, we can finally feed this nation.

Chief Ibrahim Nasiru, a public affairs Analyst, writes from Abuja

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, has intensified efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s inland waterways sector through international collaboration following a strategic meeting with the President of the World Maritime University, Maximo Q. Mejia Jr., on the sidelines of the ongoing IMO Council Meeting in London.

The meeting, held on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, focused on leveraging global expertise to advance inland waterways development, maritime education, capacity building, and sustainable water transportation systems in Nigeria.

Leading the NIWA delegation, which included the Acting Managing Director, Yusuf Girei, Shagari reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to modernising its inland waterways infrastructure and developing the skilled workforce required to drive sustainable growth in the sector.

He observed that Nigeria’s extensive inland waterways network offers enormous potential for transportation, trade, and the growth of the nation’s blue economy.

According to him, forging strategic partnerships with globally recognised maritime institutions is critical to achieving the Federal Government’s objectives of improving safety, operational efficiency, and economic activities across the country’s waterways.

Shagari further emphasised that deeper collaboration in research, training, and knowledge exchange would equip Nigerian maritime professionals with the technical expertise needed to address emerging industry challenges while aligning the sector with international best practices.

Responding, Prof. Mejia reaffirmed the World Maritime University’s commitment to supporting member states through education, research, and capacity development initiatives.

He commended Nigeria’s growing emphasis on maritime development and expressed the University’s readiness to deepen cooperation with relevant government agencies and stakeholders.

The WMU President stressed that sustainable maritime growth depends on sustained investment in human capital, innovation, and strict adherence to international standards.

Both leaders also explored opportunities to expand specialised training programmes, academic exchanges, and institutional partnerships aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s maritime administration and inland waterways management framework.

Maritime stakeholders described the engagement as a significant step towards linking Nigeria’s inland waterways sector with global centres of excellence, enabling the country to benefit from international best practices in water transport development.

The meeting was one of a series of high-level engagements taking place during the IMO Council session, where maritime leaders are discussing policies and initiatives to promote safer, more secure, and environmentally sustainable shipping worldwide.