The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola has inaugurated the Governing Boards of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).
The inauguration, held at the Ministry in Abuja, marked a significant milestone in the government’s effort to reposition the maritime sector for maximum national impact.
Oyetola in a statement issued Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Bolaji Akinola, emphasised the importance of the maritime sector, and Nigeria’s strategic position along the Gulf of Guinea and its expansive 850-kilometer coastline.
He said that the country has the potential to benefit substantially from activities such as shipping, fisheries, marine biotechnology, offshore energy, and coastal tourism.
The minister, however, charged the members of the Governing Boards to operate in the national interest, with integrity, professionalism, and transparency.
He stressed that the role of the Board is to formulate policies and provide oversight for the agencies’ operations, without interfering in their day-to-day management.
The Chairman of the NIMASA Board, Yusuf Abubakar, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity to serve.
He assured that the Board would work closely with the NIMASA management team to foster transparency, innovation, and professionalism.
Similarly, the minister also inaugurated the NIWA Board, which he described as a critical pillar in Nigeria’s maritime and transport architecture.
He urged the Board to provide strategic policy guidance and supervision, while operational execution remains the responsibility of the Managing Director and the management team.