NIWA’s Mandate in Marine, Blue Economy Achievable, Says MD

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

As part of efforts to reposition the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) towards promoting and achieving its objectives of the marine and blue economy in the country,  the agency Managing Director, Bola Oyebanji, has disclosed that the core mandate of the Authority in marine and blue economy is achievable.

Oyebanji made this known while speaking at the NIWA Special Retreat with the theme: ‘Repositioning National Inland Waterways Authority for Excellence’, held in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, last Monday.

He explained that everyone is put in a position to achieve something and  added value to the system.

According to him, “We have all been positioned to add value to the system in diverse ways. While some are to design policy directions, others have been picked to be the drivers of such policies. I likened the two groups to the main teams piloting a ship on a journey.

“While some hold the deck, others ensure the engines below run at their utmost performance. The ultimate goal is to achieve excellence at sea.

“Therefore, our assignment at this retreat is to discuss and have a working template upon which the aspirations of the president on Inland Waterways, through the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, will be achieved. As I said about three months ago in my inaugural address to the management and staff of the Authority, the objectives of NIWA are achievable, and with our collective determination, they will be achieved

“However, all of us must be willing to play our roles as expected. So I charged all the General Managers, Deputy General Managers, the Area Managers to brace up for the work ahead. As the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and the Permanent Secretary have signed a performance bond with the president, I have equally signed my performance bond with the minister and the permanent secretary the same way, all of you must sign a performance bond with me as a promise to deliver on your mandates.

“It is important for you to do this with every sense of responsibility as it will determine our working relationship going forward.

“Ladies and gentlemen, for the next 48 hours, I appeal to you to open your minds and apply yourselves to the processes and the different tasks that will be assigned to you. In this retreat, nothing should be held back. Every participant in this retreat has been carefully selected in the light of the assignment at hand. Accordingly, every opinion is important.

“Your contributions at this retreat are part of what we require to have a successful journey as an organisation.”

The Permanent Secretary, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs. Magdalene Ajani, in her remark, admonished the participants to use the opportunities to grab some of the things they did not know before now.

Ajani reiterated the commitment of the Ministry toward achieving the goals and objective through performance management system, adding that all the staff members must have at least 25 percent to the minister, 25 percent to NIWA and 50 percent to the Head of Service of the Federation.

She admonished that civil servants not to misdirect the managing director in the discharge of his duties.

The permanent secretary also warned the staff to be wary of any nefarious activity that can set trap for either the minister or the managing director of NIWA