By Stephen Ubanna
With barely one week after he inauguration of Senator Adebayo Adedeji, who incidentally was a former minister of state, ministry of Works, during President Muhahammadu Buhari’s Administration, Adegboyega Oretola, minister of marine and blue economy, on Wednesday, July 2, 2, 2025, inaugurated the Board members of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA and Nigerian Inland Water Ways Agency, NIWA, as well.
The marine and blue economy minister, who was the immediate governor of Osun state, who had performed the dual official engagement at Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, was said to have tasked the new Board of the two maritime agencies ‘’to unlocking the immense potential of Nigeria’s maritime domain’’, noting that ‘’it is the only way out ‘’ to ensure the country’s economic growth, environmental sustainability and development’’.
Describing the inauguration of NIMASA and NIWA, new Board of Directors as ‘’a significant milestone in the ongoing effort of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration to reposition the nation’s maritime industry for national impact’’, he noted that the exercise should not be seen as a mere routine process but a bold step in ‘’consolidating the structures that will drive the nation’s marine and blue economy with President Tinubu’ Renewed Hope Agenda
The NIMASA, Board, has Yusuf Abubakar, as the Chairman while NIWA Board is chaired by one Hon. Musa Sarki Adar. In inaugurating the Board members of the two maritime agencies, the former Osun state governor, who is now speaking in the language of maritime experts, had highlighted ‘’Nigeria’s maritime position along the Gulf of Guinea region and an extensive 850 Km coastline’’.
He had said that the country’s potential to benefit substantially from such activities as shipping, fisheries, marine biotechnology, offshore energy and coastal tourism with the development of the marine and blue economy.
He had alluded to the fact that President Tinubu had carved out the new marine and blue economy ministry from the ministry of Transportation ‘’to provide focused Leadership, regulation and promotion of the country’s ocean -based economy’’ as obtained in other maritime nations.
Addressing the Board members of NIMASA, when they took their turn to be inaugurated at the ministry’s Conference room at the FCT, the minister had outlined the critical mandate of the maritime regulatory agency which includes maritime safety, maritime labour regulation, marine environmental protection and capacity development.
He may have drawn the attention of Abubakar led NIMASA Board, to the fact that their Constitutional mandate is ‘’to formulate policies and provide oversight functions for the agency’s operations, without interfering in its day -to-day operations’’, currently being managed by Dayo Mobereola and his Management Team.
Minister Oyetola, who had reechoed the Presidential directive that the responsibilities of Governing Boards of Government agencies are strictly ‘’ non-executive and policy-focused’’, stated during the inauguration of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, was said to have sounded it loud and clear that ‘’they must operate in the national interest, with integrity, professionalism and transparency’’.
Appealing to the newly appointed NIMASA Board members, to work closely with the Management Team, under the close watch of Mobereola, who many believes has put the industry under firm control, ‘’to foster transparency, innovation and professionalism in line with the strategic vision of President Tinubu’s Government.
The minister may have gladdened the heart of the NIMASA Board members when he pledged its’ full alignment with the ministry’s policy direction, stating that the team would collaboratively and diligently to realise the goals of a secure and prosperous maritime for Nigeria.
When it was the turn of the NIWA Board members to be inaugurated to hit the ground running, he was said to have made them understand in order not to lose the track of their national assignment, that ‘’its’ another critical pillar in Nigeria’s maritime and transport architecture.
Given an insider information, he had said that the inauguration of the NIWA new Board has come at a time when effective institutional leadership is needed to drive infrastructure development, regulate inland water ways activities, promote water transport and support economic integration across regions.
Putting on the garb of a politician, he had reminded the Adar led NIWA Board that their role is to provide strategic policy guidance and supervision in accordance with the NIWA Act, while operational execution remains the responsibility of the agency Managing Director and his Management team. He did not stop there.
The minister was said to have drawn the attention of both he NIWA Board to the relevant sections of Public Service Rules and Public Procurement Act, which underscore the distinction between governance and management, urging them to approach their duties with discipline, professionalism and a clear understanding of institutional boundaries to avoid friction, insisting that ‘’national interest and development must guide every of their actions and decisions’’.
Hon. Adar, who had seen his appointment as the Chairman to continue to the country’s national development in trying period of down turn in global economy, had praised the former Osun state governor to high havens for his guidance, assuring him of the Board members commitment “to give their best in the service of the nation’’.
He was said to have also promised that ‘’the Board would work harmoniously with the management and operate within the confines of the Law to ensure that the agency achieve its mandate in facilitating inland water ways transportation and economic connectivity.
Bolaji Akinola, the media Aide to minister Oyetola, who was privy to the inaugurations of the Board members of the two maritime agencies in Abuja, had said that the minister had given thema cause to be cheery when he assured them of the ministry’s support and expressed ‘’confidence in their ability to discharge their responsibilities with honour and dedication’’ to effect a meaningful and lasting change in Nigeria’s maritime domain.
