2 months after Oyebamiji’s resignation, NIWA yet to get new MD

Two months after the resignation of Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO) as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), President Bola Tinubu is yet to name a replacement, thereby creating a leadership vacuum in one of the critical agencies in the marine and blue economy sector, Daily Trust can report

Checks by Daily Trust showed that Oyebamiji resigned his appointment on November 15, 2025 to focus on his ambition to contest the Osun State Governorship election and has since emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer.

Oyebamiji, who christened his political movement under APC as AMBO was appointed by President Bola Tinubu on October 25, 2023 as NIWA MD.

The ex-NIWA boss through his movement spokesperson, Adebayo Adedeji, in a statement at that time confirmed his resignation, applauding President Tinubu and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, who recommended him to serve as the chief executive of the country’s waterways agency.

“During his two years tenure, Oyebamiji demonstrated exceptional leadership, deploying his extensive private and public sector experience, spanning nearly 40 years, to reposition the waterways authority for optimal performance.

“Within two years, his leadership worked assiduously to reduce deaths and accidents on Nigeria’s inland waterways by more than 70 per cent. His leadership also elevated safety awareness campaigns to unprecedented heights, while staff welfare received remarkable and widely commended attention,” said Adedeji.

Speaking further, he said, “As he prepares for the next phase of his political journey, Oyebamiji is committed to offering quality leadership and excellent service to the people of Osun State as the state moves toward the 2026 governorship election.

“His vision is to place Osun on a path of sustainable economic prosperity that both present and future generations will appreciate and be proud of.

Before his appointment at NIWA, Oyebamiji served as Osun State Commissioner for Finance for two terms and later as Special Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola. He is also a banker, economist, public administrator and politician

…Leadership vacuum amidst boat mishap, fatalities

Meanwhile Daily Trust reports that the leadership vacuum continues amidst rising boat mishaps in the country.

According to statistics from the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), about 3,800 kilometers of the nation’s waterways are navigable seasonally for transportation of bulk cargoes and passengers.

Similarly, Data from the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB (formerly Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB), revealed that more than two-thirds of all boat fatalities are drowning incidents and 90% of these victims did not wear Personal Floatation Devices (PFD), commonly known as Life Jackets.

Daily Trust reports that scores of people have been killed in boat mishap in the year 2025 alone.

For instance in June 2025, seven persons were killed in a canoe accident that occurred while the victims were travelling from Gidan Husaini to Gwargawu village in Kambama Ward in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Monday, June 2, 2025.

The victims included two children aged three and seven, three married women, and two adults aged between 35 and 40 years

Also in August, the Head of NEMA’s Sokoto Operations Office, Mr. Aliyu Shehu, disclosed that the ill-fated boat was carrying 51 passengers mostly traders along with goods and motorcycles when it capsized.

Consequently, an investigation by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria, found that over 300 lives were lost on the Nigerian waterways in 2023.

In 2024, about 326 persons died from boat mishaps, with Niger and Kwara states having the highest number of casualties of 92 and 90, respectively, according to a count by TheCable.

In July 2025, nine people died from a boat accident in Taura Local Government Area (LGA) of Jigawa state and 25 others. One of the most devastating tragedies of 2025 was the death of 60 persons killed in the boat mishap that occurred in Borgu Local Council of Niger State occurred on September 2, 2025.

In December 2025, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), in its latest report, investigated over 10 maritime incidents in 2025, covering major mishaps across the nation’s waterways, as the agency continues to push for stricter stakeholder compliance with safety regulations.

According to NSIB, some of the notable cases include incidents at Minna in Niger state, Ocholonya in Benue State, Kogi, Bida, Sokoto and other states. He noted that NSIB investigated the Benue State’s Agatu LGA boat mishap, where an overloaded canoe carrying traders returning from Ocholonya market capsized on the River Benue, leading to the deaths of over 20 people and rescuing about 50.

The NSIB said that while some were missing, this highlighted serious issues with overloading and poor safety on local waterways, adding that a significant boat mishap occurred in Kogi State in late September/early October 2025 in the Ibaji Local Government Area on the River Niger, where an overloaded boat carrying around 80 passengers capsized.

NSIB said this led to multiple deaths, with over 30 confirmed and dozens rescued or missing. Igwe highlighted issues like overloading and a lack of life jackets, prompting government action and appeals for support and calls for stricter safety enforcement.

The Marine Safety Investigator emphasised that although NSIB has released preliminary and interim reports for several of these cases online on its official website, the bureau is still compiling comprehensive statistics, which are expected to be available by March 2026.

It further emphasised the importance of regulatory compliance among maritime stakeholders, particularly in light of the River Code issued by the NIWA.

…NIWA’s mandate

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), hitherto Inland Waterways Department (IWD) of the Federal Ministry of Transport, metamorphosed into an Authority vide an act of the National Assembly, CAP 47, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2004 (Decree No. 13 of 1997), established with the primary responsibility to improve and develop Nigeria’s inland waterways for navigation improve and develop inland waterways for navigation

It also provides an alternative mode of transportation for the evacuation of economic goods and persons: and execute the objectives of the national transport policy as they concern inland waterways.

…No leadership vacuum – Official

Meanwhile, Mr. Makama Suleiman, spokesman of NIWA while responding to Daily Trust told this paper that there is no leadership vacuum.

He said, “Since the resignation of Oyebamiji, Mal. Yusuf Umar Girei has been serving in acting capacity and has filled the vacuum left by the former MD in line with laid down procedure.”

He added, “Girei before assuming the acting MD position was the general manager Finance in NIWA.”

Checks also showed that Girei, alongside members of the management team recently briefed the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy (FMM&BE), Hajiya Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood on the Authority’s core mandate, vision and mission, as well as key achievements and operational challenges.

He said NIWA has continued to roll out initiatives with visible impact in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Girei noted that the Authority is sustaining collaboration with the private sector to enhance efficiency and expand service delivery.

According to him, such partnerships remain vital to unlocking the economic potential of inland waterways while improving navigation, infrastructure and safety standards nationwide.

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