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The Acting Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Umar Yusuf Girei, has declared that the Authority is intensifying reforms to boost transparency, accountability and operational efficiency across Nigeria’s inland waterways sector.
Speaking at a post-event press conference at the NIWA Headquarters in Lokoja, Girei said the agency recently convened a two-day Executive and Anti-Corruption Training themed “Strengthening Integrity and Revenue System in Inland Waterways Management.”
The programme brought together Board Members, Management staff and Area Managers, alongside the 2026 NIWA Management Retreat held in Abuja.
According to him, the initiative forms part of efforts to reposition the Authority’s internal systems, block revenue leakages and entrench ethical governance in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“With the support of the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, we are aligning our institutional goals toward improved service delivery and stronger stakeholder confidence,” Girei stated.
As part of the anti-corruption drive, the NIWA boss disclosed that the Authority has opened strategic engagements with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to develop additional transparency safeguards within its operational framework.
He assured staff and stakeholders that ongoing reforms under his leadership would translate into measurable improvements in performance standards, revenue accountability and working conditions.
“NIWA remains committed to continuous improvement and stakeholder engagement. These reforms will not only strengthen internal performance but also enhance public confidence in our operations,” Girei affirmed.
The renewed reform push signals a decisive move by the waterways regulator to reinforce institutional integrity while positioning Nigeria’s inland waterways as a more efficient and accountable component of the nation’s transport and blue economy architecture.
