Water transporters operating under the aegis of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Liverpool Unit have rated the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) low on efficiency and performance, especially within the Lagos area.
In a chat with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos yesterday, Chairman of the Unit which belonged under the Seamen and Water Transport branch of MWUN; Comrade Owolabi Omotayo alleged that it was the inefficiency of NIWA that led to the formation of the Lagos State Inland Waterways Authority (LASWA)
Water transporters operating under the aegis of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Liverpool Unit have rated the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) low on efficiency and performance, especially within the Lagos area.
In a chat with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos yesterday, Chairman of the Unit which belonged under the Seamen and Water Transport branch of MWUN; Comrade Owolabi Omotayo alleged that it was the inefficiency of NIWA that led to the formation of the Lagos State Inland Waterways Authority (LASWA)
He said that the relocation of the agency's headquarters from its present location in Lokoja,Kogi state to Lagos is very necessary in order to bring about efficiency.
He argued that Lagos remains the commercial nerve centre of the nation's economy and it is very important for NIWA to be strategically positioned.
"If you look at the functionality of NIWA recently, you will see that they are not really performing, a lot of their duties are being abandoned and not being properly pursued, their coming back to Lagos will add more to the service delivery of the agency"
"A lot of things are happening on our waterways and yet they have their branches all over the country and other riverine areas, but Lagos is the centralized commercial centre where the impact of NIWA should really be felt"
"It is due to the inefficiency and short coming of NIWA that necessitated the establishment of LASWA by the Lagos State Government, we are not objecting to that because the two can actually work together for the betterment of the sector, the water ways and other regulatory bodies. Moving to Lagos will enhance their productivity" Omotayo stated.
He observed that the agency was lacking in the area of water transportation, inland waterways and the development of manpower and security on the waterways.
He admitted however that the union is now being invited by NIWA for stakeholders meetings, noting that NIWA has just started waking up and this is good for the industry.
"They are waking up now and key issues are now being presented before them" he said
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