The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy (FMM&BE), Hajiya Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, has met with the management of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to strengthen safety awareness and improve service delivery across Nigeria’s inland waterways.
The meeting, held in Abuja, was aimed at familiarising the Permanent Secretary with NIWA’s operations and assessing how the Authority’s programmes align with the Ministry’s mandate under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
During the engagement, the Acting Managing Director of NIWA, Alhaji Yusuf Umar Girei, along with members of the management team, briefed Mahmood on the Authority’s core mandate, vision and mission, key achievements, and operational challenges.
Girei said NIWA has continued to implement initiatives with visible impact in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He added that the Authority remains committed to sustaining collaboration with the private sector to enhance efficiency and expand service delivery.
According to him, such partnerships are critical to unlocking the economic potential of inland waterways while improving navigation, infrastructure development and safety standards nationwide.
In her remarks, Mahmood commended NIWA’s efforts and stressed the need to deepen safety sensitisation across the country. She urged the Authority to extend awareness campaigns to religious centres as a strategy to reach a wider audience of water users and operators.
The Permanent Secretary also called for stronger collaboration with sister agencies, improved human capital development, enhanced media engagement for public enlightenment, and regular updates to the Ministry on NIWA’s activities and progress.
Officials from the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy at the meeting included Hajiya Kalthum Ibrahim, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics; Mr. Oyinloye Adeola Meshack, Director of the Maritime Services Department; and other staff from the Office of the Permanent Secretary.
The NIWA delegation comprised Barrister Naziru Biyankare, General Manager, Legal Services; Dan’Azumi Muazu, General Manager, Planning, Research and Statistics; Engr. Dakio Horsefall, General Manager, Marine Services; Engr. Fidelis Ejike, General Manager, Engineering Services; and Surv. Henry Adimoha, General Manager, Survey Services.
