The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, will embark on a one-day working visit to the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) headquarters in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Tuesday, June 11.
This visit was announced in a statement by the Minister's spokesman, Ismail Omipidan, on Saturday.
During the visit, the Minister will inaugurate several landmark projects and programs implemented by NIWA under the leadership of Managing Director Bola Oyebamiji over the past seven months.
Among the projects to be inaugurated are 12 fiber-reinforced plastic fast-moving boats and three Water Ambulances.
Speaking about the visit, NIWA MD Oyebamiji expressed his excitement, noting that it would provide his team an opportunity to present their progress over the last seven months.
"After receiving my appointment letter about six months ago, the Minister tasked me with finding a lasting solution to frequent accidents on the waterways. I am pleased to report that we have implemented measures to address this issue," Oyebamiji said.
"The first step was ensuring the Inland Waterways Transportation Regulation (2023) for safety was gazetted. This process had been ongoing for many years, but we completed it within six months. The Honourable Minister will launch the code on Tuesday, which will guide boat operators, regulate passenger conduct, and provide a framework for investors in water transportation. This will undoubtedly help reduce accidents on our waterways," he added.
