Concerned Citizens of Osun Demand the Resignation of NIWA MD/CEO, Mr. Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, Over Rising Boat Mishaps.

Concerned Citizens of Osun Demand the Resignation of NIWA MD/CEO, Mr. Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, Over Rising Boat Mishaps.

Osogbo, September 1, 2025.

The Concerned Citizens of Osun expressed deep sorrow and grave concern over the alarming rise in boat mishaps across Nigeria's inland waterways under the leadership of Mr. Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, the 8th Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

Over the weekend, another tragedy struck in Sokoto State, the second in just a short period. Shockingly, six major boat accidents have already been recorded this year, leaving dozens dead and many more missing.

On June 2, 2025, a canoe carrying nine passengers capsized in Shagari Local Government, Sokoto State' seven lives, including women and children, were lost, with only two survivors.

Barely two weeks earlier, four passengers died in a similar mishap on the Yauri River, Kebbi State.

On July 27, 2025, a boat transporting nearly 100 traders to a market capsized in Niger State. Thirteen people were confirmed dead, 26 were rescued, while the fate of others remains unknown.

That same day, NEMA confirmed nine more deaths in Taura Local Government, Jigawa State, following another disaster.

Yet another tragic mishap was also recorded in Kebbi State.


These repeated tragedies reveal a failure of leadership and lack of capacity on the part of Mr. Oyebamiji to manage and secure Nigeria's waterways.

By contrast, the immediate past MD/CEO of NIWA, Dr. George Moghalu introduced proactive safety measures that led to a significant reduction in boat accidents nationwide. Nigerians had expected Mr. Oyebamiji to build on those gains, unfortunately, two years into his tenure, there has been no meaningful new initiative to address safety challenges on our waters.

As concerned Nigerians, we find it unacceptable that citizens who depend on waterways for daily transport continue to die in preventable accidents while the head of NIWA appears detached from this national crisis. At a time when the rainy season demands heightened surveillance, strict enforcement of life jacket use, the phasing out of rickety boats, and closer collaboration with marine police, reports suggest that Mr. Oyebamiji has been absent from the field, even as tragedies multiply in Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, and Jigawa States.

We therefore call for the immediate resignation of Mr. Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji as NIWA MD/CEO for gross incompetence. The Federal Government of Nigeria must stop entrusting sensitive agencies like NIWA to individuals who lack the vision, expertise, and commitment to safeguard lives.

Every Nigerian life matters. The daily loss of lives on our waterways is not only tragic, it is avoidable. Leadership failure must no longer be tolerated where human lives are at stake.

Happy New Month.

Signed:


Apesin-Abiodun Adegoke,
Coordinator, Concerned Citizens of Osun,

1st September, 2025

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