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Boat mishaps: FG procures N14.6 billion modern boats, ferries for distribution to riverine areas

Funso OLOJO 
In its determined efforts to reduce
boat mishaps on Nigeria’s waterways to the bearest minimum,  the Federal government has purchased modern boats and ferries that would be distributed to the riverine areas of the country.
The gesture is meant to replace the wooden and dilapidated boats and ferries that have been the major causes of mishaps on the Nigeria”s  waterways.
Making this disclosure on Thursday January 29th 2026 was the immediate past Managing Director of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji.
Oyebamiji, who was speaking to the coalition of maritime journalists in his campaign office at Ilerioluwa house, Oshogbo,  disclosed that the acquired boats and ferries will arrive the country in “the next few months”.
According to him, the purchase was in response to his recommendations he made to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola while he was the NIWA MD.
The APC governorship candidate in Osun state further disclosed that these modern boats and ferries, when they are delivered, will be distributed to the riverine state that are much exposed and affected by mishaps due to the use of wooden and dilapidated water crafts.
Some of the riverine states that are expected to benefit from these largesse include Niger, Kogi, Benue, Kwara, and Kebbi states.
Such states like Lagos, Rivers and Cross Rivers, according to Asiwaju Oyebamiji, may not be beneficiaries because “they have the capacity to invest in such modern boats and ferries”
“I presented a paper to the Federal government, to my Honorable Minister, and the Federal government paid about 14.6 billion to import very good, very big boats that can actually take agricultural products and people that are domesticated to our waters.
” I’m not talking of Lagos.Lagos has enough, and Lagos is capable of investing in ferry and boats that can give us a mileage and a Rivers state can do that. Cross Rivers too can do that,  but we are talking of Niger, Kogi, Benue, Kwara, and Kebbi.
“I’m sure in the next few months, those boats and ferries will be delivered, and that will reduce the boat mishaps drastically.” the former NIWA MD disclosed.
He noted that wooden and dilapidated boats and ferries account for about 20 – 25 percent of mishaps in the riverine areas while human elements account for about 70 percent of the water carnage.
While reminiscing  on his days at NIWA, Oyebamiji said he met the agency in a state of comatose where the staff were ill- motivated, hungry and angry while boats mishaps were the order of the day.
“When I came into NIWA, I have never heard of NIWA in my life before I came into NIWA.
“When I came in, I looked at what is happening in NIWA. I looked at their profile.
“I see that, one, that agency is an agency that you can say that is moribund.  They are not known as NPA and NIMASA.
“And one thing that is synonymous to NIWA then was boat mishaps” the former NIWA MD revealed.
He however said that after analyzing the problems of the agency through SWOT analysis method ( Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats), he went to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy who gave his support and encouragement to do whatever he could to turn things around.
Oyebamiji said the first thing he did was to invest in the human elements in the agency through motivation of staff to lift their dampen spirit.
He said that it was the same staff who were there when NIWA was moribund and boat mishaps were the order of the day that also worked very hard to achieve a drastic turnaround of the agency through programmes and projects that eventually led to the reduction of mishaps on the nation’s waterways.
“I didn’t know that I would spend only two and a half years in NIWA
“I have a plan. I have a long-term plan for NIWA of 20 years where I thought that by the time I spend four years, I will have institutionalized those processes that will give them to achieve that plan.
” I give my staff priority because anywhere in the world, the most relevant asset that anybody can have that is tangible is human being. That’s the fact.
“That’s why you see that people is a major asset that you have in many organizations. I did a lot of things for my people in NIWA.
“I hold them to very high esteem. We added value to them, and we added value back to it.
“We recorded about almost 75 percent to 80 percent success in NIWA and  what we have today was the same staff that sat unconsciously without adding value, that achieved the same goal” the former NIWA MD stated.
Oyebamiji was full of praise for the media who supported him in his campaign to reduce carnage on Nigeria’s waterways.
It could be recalled that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has consistently emphasized the need for the riverine areas to drop the use of wooden and dilapidated boats while urging the state governments in these areas to invest in modern water crafts in order to minimize manace on the waterways.
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IWD: SIFAX distributes 500 food packs to Ijora community, empowers staff 

Geraldine Samuel, Senior Correspondent 
In a series of impactful activities spanning a school outreach, an employee empowerment webinar and a community food donation drive, SIFAX Group has marked the 2026 International Women’s Day with a multi-pronged initiative that touched the lives of hundreds of girls, women employees and vulnerable residents in Lagos.
One of the highlights of the celebration was an outreach programme to United Christian Secondary School, Apapa, Lagos, where over 500 girls received mentorship from senior female employees of the company.
 The session covered topics such as leadership, education, personal development and menstrual health awareness.
There was also a donation of textbooks to the school, menstrual pads, as well as perfumes to the students.
The speakers drew from personal career experiences to motivate the students, urging them to remain focused on their education and resist distractions.
 They emphasised that determination and discipline could open doors across any field — from business and law to medicine, technology and the creative industries.
Jesuyemisi Odeyemi, Company Secretary and Legal Head of SIFAX Group, charged the students to strive for excellence without reservation.
 “You are strong. You can do it, and you will. You will not only do it, but you will also do it well, you will do it better,” she told the girls.
Vanessa Uansohia, Head of Corporate Communications at Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO), SIFAX Group’s aviation arm, also challenged the students to confront self-limiting beliefs.
 “The only person that is stopping you is yourself,” she said, encouraging the girls to pursue their ambitions with bold confidence.
As part of internal activities to mark the day, the company also organised an interactive webinar for female employees focused on strengthening communication and leadership capacity in the workplace.
Speaking on the topic, “Speaking: A Tool for Growth, Multiplication, and Career Progression,” Public Speaking Strategist, Joyce Daniels, urged participants to embrace public speaking as a catalyst for professional advancement, noting that confidence and conviction are the cornerstones of effective communication.
“If you will grow, multiply and have progression in your career, you will speak from a place of conviction,” she said, adding that impactful leaders distinguish themselves by their willingness to boldly articulate their ideas.
Wunmi Eniola-Jegede, Group Coordinating Director, SIFAX Group, described International Women’s Day as a moment to celebrate the social, economic and cultural achievements of women while renewing the call for gender equality.
“This year’s theme, Give to Gain, resonates deeply with our mission of inclusivity and empowerment.
” Every woman is a leader in her own right, and giving back creates growth opportunities for individuals, organisations and communities,” she said.
Extending its impact beyond the workplace, SIFAX Group also carried out a community outreach to Ijora where 500 bags of assorted food items were distributed to vulnerable households.
Each pack was assembled with essential household staples — rice, beans, vegetable oil, garri and salt, carefully curated to provide tangible relief to families within the community.
The distribution was conducted in collaboration with community leaders to ensure a transparent and orderly process.
Eniola-Jegede, who coordinated the outreach, noted that the initiative reflects the organisation’s culture of compassion and its determination to give back to the communities in which it operates.
She added that the exercise was also designed to amplify the message of International Women’s Day by encouraging women within the organisation to lead community interventions that uplift vulnerable groups.
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IWD: Mobereola, NIMASA DG, celebrates women for their contributions to maritime industry 

Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter 

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) , Dr Dayo Mobereola, has applauded the contributions of women to the development of the Nigerian Maritime industry.

In a goodwill message to mark the 2026 International Women’s Day with the theme “Give to Gain”, Dr Mobereola celebrated the strength, expertise and invaluable contributions of women to the sector, emphasising that the industry has gained progress, innovation and sustainable growth through their efforts.

According to him “I celebrate your strength, expertise, and invaluable contributions to our maritime industry.

“The theme #GiveToGain reflects your daily impact. Through your professionalism, leadership, and resilience across sea-going, regulatory, technical, and administrative roles, you give excellence and our sector gains progress, innovation, and sustainable growth.”

Mobereola further commended the dedication of women in the industry and reaffirmed his commitment to “a maritime industry where every woman is empowered to lead and thrive”.

International Women’s Day is a global observance that seeks to draw attention to challenges faced by women and the need to ensure gender equity.

This year’s theme “Give to Gain”, focuses on investing in women through resources, education, and mentorship to create a stronger, more equitable society, highlighting the fact that empowering women brings collective benefits; economies, communities, and workplaces all grow when women thrive.

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IWD: 60 percent of my aides, technical assistants are women – Danthoso, NPA MD, declares as he celebrates women.

Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter 

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abubakar Danthoso, has said that he was intentional in his prioritizing  gender equality in key appointments at the NPA.

While eulogizing the role of women in the maritime industry as part of his message to women during the International Women’s Day celebration, Dr Danthoso, declared that 60 percent of his aides and technical assistants are women.

“Women hold 60 percent of these roles(personal aides and technical assistants) with men making up the remaining 40 percent.

“This intentional step underscores NPA’s commitment to advancing women’s participation and success across the maritime industry.” he stated.

Danthoso said he recognizes the remarkable contributions of to the progress and success of NPA “who continue to drive progress, break barriers, and shape a more equitable future for the sector.”

” The Nigerian Ports Authority proudly celebrates the resilience, dedication, and invaluable contributions of women in the maritime sector—including firefighting, security, piloting, engineering, hydrography, administrative and vessel-support services such as aids to navigation.

” These remarkable women are excelling even in roles that traditionally demand male-kind of strength”

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