Boundaries - News Agency Of Nigeria

Tosin Kolade
Jul, Wed, 2025

NIWA board must respect governance boundaries – Minister

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By Diana Omueza

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, has urged the Governing Board of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to maintain clear boundaries between governance and management for operational integrity and efficiency.

Oyetola said this during the inauguration of the 11-member board on Wednesday in Abuja.

The minister said that the board was to provide key policy guidance to the management, according to existing rules and regulations, without interfering with day-to-day management affairs or operational execution.

“This inauguration marks a critical step in our collective efforts to strengthen the governance structures of our maritime institutions and position the sector for greater national impact.

“It is essential to emphasise that the day-to-day operations and execution of policy decisions remain solely the responsibility of the managing director and the management team.

“This is clearly stipulated in Part IV, Section 14(2) of the NIWA Act and further reinforced by the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007,” he said.

Oyetola enjoined the board to engage with NIWA management constructively, with professionalism, mutual respect, and shared responsibility.

He emphasised that institutional harmony was vital and could only be achieved through cooperation, transparency, and unwavering dedication to national service.

Responding, Mr Musa Adar, the Board Chairman, appreciated the minister and President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and pledged to introduce innovative ways to tackle issues affecting Nigeria’s inland waterways.

Adar said the board would capitalise on improvements in key areas, with the collective support of the management, to enhance safety and security.

“This will involve upgrading infrastructure, investing in modern recreational aids, and strengthening partnerships with relevant agencies to combat piracy and other threats hindering water transportation in our inland waterways.

“By taking these steps, we can reduce the risk of accidents, protect human lives and properties, and ensure that our waterways are used sustainably and responsibly to enhance economic growth,” he said.

Members of the board include Mr Bola Oyebamiji; Mr Hussaini Shettima; Mr Jeminiwa Adewale; Dr Ndidi Ozegbe; Dr. Sadiq Z. Abubakar.

Others are Mr Kunle Olugbemiro; Capt. Tajudeen Alao; Mr. Dele Oye; Mr.Jerome Angwunwe, and Hoplyn Ayu. (NAN)

Edited by Victor Adeoti/Ayodeji Alabi

Boundaries not barriers but bridges of cooperation – FG

Philip Daniel Yatai
May, Fri, 2025

Metro

Boundaries not barriers but bridges of cooperation – FG

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By Philip Yatai

Abuja, May 30, 2025 (NAN) The National Boundary Commission (NBC) has advised internal and international border communities to see boundaries not as barriers but as bridges of cooperation.

The NBC Director-General, Mr Adamu Adaji, gave the advice on Friday in Abuja, while assessing the impact of President Bola Tinubu’s administration after two years in office.

Adaji told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the people of border communities were placed there by geography and have co-existed as neighbours and as friends for a very long time.

He added that the people have shared so many things in terms of culture, history and socio-economic relations.

He, therefore, advised them not to allow the politics or policies of boundaries to bring any bad blood among them and their neighbours or tear them apart.

“That’s why sometimes we try to divorce the traditional boundaries from the administrative boundaries.

“Traditional boundaries may have their extent even beyond the administrative boundaries because of ethnicity and of course, boundaries are not according to ethnicity, they are for administrative purposes.

“The boundary we now have is an administrative boundary, different from what some of them conceive as their traditional boundaries, which in some cases may not be in alignment with the administrative boundaries.

“The administrative boundaries are those that the Federal Government has created for ease of governance and for jurisdictions of the various levels of governance,” he said.

He further appealed to border communities not to be deceived by some elites who may try to create bad blood between them and their neighbours.

According to him, people should look at issues of boundaries from a more humane perspective and see boundaries as bridges and not barriers that will separate them.

“I bleed each time I hear of any crisis that leads to loss of life because of one community fighting another community over boundary disagreement.

“These are lands that we came to meet and we’re going to leave and when people fight over boundary issues, most of them do not even live to see the benefits.

“There is no need to shed blood over boundary skirmishes. People should take note of the fact that they have co-existed for so long and have intermarried and interacted in so many areas,” he said

He identified the activities of some elites, who tried to influence the people’s decision as one of the major challenges of boundary management.

He called on the people to allow the boundary commission interface with them and the appropriate authorities to see how these boundaries could be properly defined. (NAN)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi