The Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Boss Mustapha, has assured that the agency will strategically grow new businesses across the Nigerian Inlands Waterways.
This is just as he said that the agency will also embark in wealth creating infrastructure that will add value to water transportation in the country.
Addressing the staff of Lagos area office of the federal agency saddled with the responsibility of regulating inland waterways transportation in Nigeria, Mustapha, who is the newly appointed boss of NIWA told the workers to brace-up for new challenges through creation of wealth and not be seen only as revenue collectors, a development he wished to be thrown into the dustbin of history.
He urged the staff and management to think out of the box, deal with the visible stagnation in NIWA and joins hands with him to deliver to Nigerians a highly visible, revitalised and technically efficient organization that the nation can proud of.
According to him, “We must show competence and not lose sight of the component of national development through waterways which we must unlock strategically to encourage small businesses in the riverine communities and states to thrive”
Mustapha explained that the expectations of change in work ethics will be backed by staff welfare and opportunities of training to generate new revenue lines.
He assured the staff that he has got the character, ability and capacity to deliver a new NIWA and challenged them to also recreate themselves in the agency so that their children and those yet unborn would wish to become part of the legacy story of NIWA.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Mr. Muazu Sambo told the visiting NIWA boss that his office had compiled the needs of the area office and sent to the NIWA headquarters, appreciating the new boss for choosing to visit Lagos first among all area offices.
Sambo also led NIWA boss and his Manager, Legal Services and Secretary of NIWA Board, Alhaji Ibrahim Danladi to visit selected NIWA private sector stakeholders in Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Maroko and Lekki areas of Lagos.
Boat and jetty operators in public private sector partnership with NIWA visited by NIWA by Mustapha are Tarzan Jetty, Texas connection, BICS Garden and Boat Club, Maroko boat jetty and Gracefield island, Lekki.