By Hon. Kazeem Shittu
MD MYDESTINY GLOBAL SERVICE LTD
Our attention has been drawn to the malicious publication of one Blue Marine Alliance, accusing the Managing Director of National Inland Waterways (NIWA), Alhaji Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, accusing him of incompetence over waterway safety.
The managing Director has achieved several and notable milestones since his resumption in November, 2023.
In respect of the deaths on Nigeria’s waterways, we sympathise with the families of the deceased and NIWA. Besides, everyone knows that, passangers’ refusal to wear the life jackets and not adhering to the safety protocol are largely responsible for the deaths of many passengers’ when accident occurs.
Having been aware of the need to address various fundamental challenges in NIWA, the leadership of Bola Oyebamiji has put many safety initiatives in place to enhance safety, efficiency, and economic viability in Nigeria’s inland waterways sector. Part of the laudable initiatives are gazetting of the Water Transportation Code, which prescribes regulations and penalties for violators, deployment of over 20 watercrafts to strategic locations nationwide, deployment of more than 600 Water Marshals to key loading and offloading points, distribution of over 6,000 standard life jackets and expanded various safety campaigns across radio, television, and print media, among others.
The campaigns also emphasised the need for attitudinal change among water transport users, particularly regarding life jacket usage.
To further demonstrate his commitment to improving safety and reducing accidents on Nigeria’s waterways, Oyebamiji organised a sensitisation program for boat operators in Lagos, where he emphasized the importance of adhering to safety regulations and distributed life jackets to promote safety awareness. He also introduced Water Marshals to monitor safety on waterways, enforce regulations, and prevent accidents. These marshals work in shifts to ensure compliance with safety protocols.
Beyond the measures taken to enhance safety on Nigeria’s waterways, Oyebamiji led a 16-member Special Committee that submitted a report to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, outlining key findings and recommendations for enhancing maritime safety and preventing boat mishaps.
Bola Oyebamiji, the Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has been actively collaborating with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), to wholistically address the fundamental challenges facing the Nigeria’s waterways. He has led Nigeria’s campaign for a Category C seat on the IMO Council, which would empower the country to influence global maritime policies and decision-making processes. In his campaign, he emphasised Nigeria’s readiness to modernize its maritime infrastructure to foster a sustainable, secure, and investment-driven industry. He attended the 46th Consultative Conference of Contracting Parties at the IMO Headquarters in London, where he discussed pressing environmental and navigational issues, including Marine Geoengineering, Marine Litter and Microplastics, and CO2 Sequestration.
On infrastructural development, Bola Oyebamiji has commissioned 15 boats for surveillance, safety enforcement, emergency response, fire safety enforcement boats, a passenger boat, water ambulances, and hydrographic survey boats. In terms of operational efficiency, the leadership of Bola Oyebamiji as NIWA Boss implemented a Performance Management System (PMS) to evaluate staff performance and reward outstanding contributions, and enhanced staff welfare through education grants, promotion letters, and medical packages.
On stakeholders’ engagements, he has conducted stakeholder sensitization programs in over 12 states and 70 locations and collaborated with state governments, regulatory agencies, and industry stakeholders to promote safe practices and sustainable development. More so, the NIWA Boss has been working with the House Committee on National Inland Waterways to strengthen enforcement measures against unsafe practices and modernize infrastructure. All his efforts in the NIWA are geared towards addressing the fundamental challenges bedevilling the Authority. And the great impacts of the efforts are being felt in the Authority.
Bola Oyebamiji achieved a 40% reduction in accidents and incidents on waterways, increased cargo throughput by 25%, created over 5,000 maritime sector jobs and attracted $100 million in foreign investments. He has received several recognitions for his exemplary leadership, including the Honorary Fellow Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (FCIOTA) and the Diligence in Service Award.
His outstanding performance as the two-term Commissioner for Finance under former Governors Rauf Aregbesola and Gboyega Oyetola earned him the exalted position as the NIWA Boss. Besides, his philanthropic gesture has made him a big and well-known brand in Osun State political landscape. To address the camp’s protracted water scarcity, Bola Oyebamiji and his wife, Sekinat Oyebamiji donated a well-drilled industrial borehole to the Osun State permanent orientation camp of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) in Ede, Osun State. He also launched the Ilerioluwa Free Fuel Distribution Initiative, targeting at least 15,000 beneficiaries across the 10 Local Government Areas of Osun West Senatorial District.
This initiative aimed at easing the burden of fuel subsidy removal on people in his senatorial district. As a lover of education, he supported indigent students with scholarship awards to help them through school.
More so, Bola Oyebamiji has contributed to the construction of hundreds of mosques across Osun State and beyond. He also built the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Secretariat in his hometown of Ikire, showcasing his commitment to religious diversity. In fact, Oyebamiji’s philanthropic efforts have been widely recognized, with the NYSC State Coordinator praising his family’s commitment to humanity and describing them as a “perfect example of what humanity represents”.
Therefore, we are not unaware that, some political elements are behind the malicious call for the performing boss’ resignation. Their diabolical actions have shown that, they are being threatened by the rising political strengths and credentials of Bola Oyebamiji. We even heard in some various quarters that the good people of Osun State have been clamouring for Oyebamiji to contest for the governorship of Osun State in the coming governorship election.
Whether he will heed to the clarion call or not, time will surely tell.
Finally, this is to let them know also that, Mr President is fully aware of the laudable initiatives and achievements of Bola Oyebamiji as the NIWA Boss and he is fully enjoying the full backing of the Honourable Minister for Marine and Blue Economy as well as the President of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria. If such a great thinker and innovator is the same person some busy body are being portrayed as non-competent, then their kind of politics is a joke taken too far.
