By Cliffsimeon Akalonu
As part of the preparative and protective measures taken by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to have a seamless exercise in the shipment of cargoes from Lagos Ports to Onitsha River Port, the Managing Director of NIWA, Chief Dr. George Moghalu, paid a working visit to the Acting Inspector General of the Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba at the force’s headquarters in Abuja recently.
During the visit, the MD of NIWA seeked the collaboration and cooporation of the police in providing adequate security for the second test-run of cargo shipments from Lagos to Onitsha River Port in a bid to decongest the Ports in Lagos State.
In his words, Moghalu said “the purpose of our visit is to seek for collaboration and cooperation of the police force to build a synergy in our inland waterways operations, most importantly now that we are about to commence the second phase of the test-run of shipping cargoes from Lagos to Onitsha.”
The MD of NIWA said that “NIWA is a Federal agency saddled with the responsibility of regulating and developing activities on the Inland waterways of the nation with a headquarter in Lokoja, Kogi State, with 22 area offices across the nation and waterways links across 28 states in the federation.”
He added that “statistics have shown that about sixty percent of cargoes coming into Nigerian Ports are destined to the South East of the country.”
Moghalu thanked the IG for the kind cooperation the force has been rendering to NIWA Inland Police Command, and also appealed for more cooperation in some areas of challenges the Authority is facing such as lack of gunboats, accouterment and anti-riot equipment.
He asked the IG to help vacate some police officials illegally occupying some of the organization’s premises which is by law under NIWA’s right of way at Onitsha Area Office, so that the Authority can make better use of the place.
The MD congratulated the Acting IG Usman Alkali Baba for his appointment as the new Acting Inspector General of the Police by Mr President, and wish him a successful tenure.
Responding, the Acting IG of Police Usman Alkali Baba, thanked the Managing Director of NIWA and his management team for the visit. He said “I thank you for coming to congratulate me and intimate me with the developments and challenges you have in your organization.”
The IG further stated that “we have a very good and cordial working relationship with NIWA and we recognize the kind cooperation that NIWA is rendering to the inland and marine police, though we need improvements in the areas.”
He also said “to have gun boats is capital intensive but the force will look for a way on how to support NIWA in its areas of operations.”
