Stakeholders across Nigeria’s inland waterways sector have begun issuing their assessments of Mr. Bola Oyebamiji’s two-year stewardship at the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), following his sudden resignation last week to pursue his 2026 governorship ambition in Osun State.
Oyebamiji, who assumed office in 2023, stepped down amid growing political activity in his home state, leaving behind a tenure that industry operators describe as disciplined, orderly and markedly different from the administrative turbulence that previously characterised the agency.
One of the strongest commendations came from senior waterways operations czars; Tope Fajemirokun, who is President Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association of Nigeria (WABOTAN). He said Oyebamiji stood out as the best Managing Director he had ever worked with.
He credited the former NIWA helmsman with strengthening internal discipline, restoring administrative consistency and resisting the habitual tendency of incoming chief executives to discard established operational structures.
According to Fajemirokun, Oyebamiji’s leadership brought improved stipends for water guards, clearer engagement with contractors and more structured staff management processes.
He added that comparative operational records from previous years showed firmer sensitisation efforts and more coordinated regulatory activities under his watch.
Also reacting, frontline boat operator and ATBOWATON chieftain, Mr. Ganiyu Tarzan Balogun, described his experience with the former NIWA boss as “largely favourable.” While noting his surprise at the timing of the resignation, Balogun stressed that NIWA’s mandate is regulatory—not operational—and that Oyebamiji should be judged strictly within that context.
“As far as I am concerned, he did very well,” Tarzan said. “People talk about boat mishaps, but he is not the one operating the boats. His duty is to regulate, ensure compliance, and provide enforcement. Operators must also do their part. For me, he has done all he can.”
Balogun highlighted improved regulatory presence on waterways, stricter enforcement of life jackets, intensified safety campaigns, and increased collaboration with state governments and private operators—particularly within high-traffic corridors such as Lagos.
Despite lingering sector-wide challenges including recurring boat mishaps, unlicensed operations and persistent regulatory overlaps, he argue that these issues are systemic and extend beyond the capacity of any single NIWA administration to resolve.
