Leadership Vacuum at NIWA Continues Amid Rising Boat Mishaps in Nigeria

Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji resigned as the Managing Director of the Nation Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) on November 15, 2025, to focus on his ambition to contest the Osun State governorship election under the APC. His leadership at NIWA was praised for improving safety and staff welfare.

President Bola Tinubu is yet to name a replacement, leaving a leadership vacuum in the agency. Boat mishaps, such as the tragic incidents in Sokoto, Jigawa, and Niger states, have increased, with many fatalities due to lack of life jackets.

The Nigerian Maritime Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) reported several boat accidents in 2025, emphasizing the need for stricter safety regulations and compliance in the waterways sector.