Oyetola urges NIWA to deepen transparency, accountability through system integrity

Adegboyega Oyetola, the minister of Marine and Blue Economy, has called on the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to strengthen transparency and accountability by entrenching system integrity across its operations, describing it as essential to ethical leadership, efficient service delivery, and sustainable revenue generation.

The Minister made the call at a retreat themed “The Art and Practice of System Integrity in Public Institutions”, organised by NIWA in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

According to a statement signed by Anastasia Ogbonna, for the ministry He was represented at the event by Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. In a keynote address, Oyetola stressed that system integrity is central to NIWA’s ability to effectively deliver on its mandate and support the Federal Government’s Blue Economy agenda.

He noted that strong institutional systems reduce opportunities for abuse, promote ethical conduct, and enhance public confidence in government agencies.

The Minister identified key areas requiring urgent attention, including revenue generation, transparency, and accountability, urging NIWA to embrace technology-driven solutions and public-private partnerships to improve operational efficiency and financial sustainability.

“System integrity is not a moral luxury; it is an economic necessity,” Oyetola said, calling on the Board and Management of NIWA to prioritise financial sustainability and innovation in revenue generation to unlock the full economic potential of Nigeria’s inland waterways.

He further observed that NIWA’s partnership with the ICPC aligns with the Federal Government’s preventive approach to combating corruption, noting that ethical leadership and transparent revenue systems are critical to maximising the economic value of the waterways sector.

Earlier in his remarks, Umar Girei, Acting Managing Director of NIWA, said the retreat was aimed at strengthening the Authority’s systems and processes, while fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, and performance-driven leadership. He reaffirmed NIWA’s commitment to institutional reforms, effective revenue generation, and zero tolerance for corrupt practices.

Also speaking, Musa Aliyu, Chairman of the ICPC, reiterated the Commission’s readiness to support public institutions through preventive mechanisms, capacity building, and integrity-driven initiatives to curb corruption and improve governance outcomes.