By Kenneth Jukpor
Barely 24 hours after the National Auditor of the All Progressives Congress (APC) George Muoghalu has been appointed as the new Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), he has been tasked with transforming the Onitsha River Port.
Muoghalu’s appointment is coming one month after President Muhammadu Buhari appointed the immediate past NIWA Managing Director, Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora as the Minister of State for Health.
NIWA spokesman, Mr. Tayo Fadile revealed this via a press statement issued yesterday and both Muoghalu and the NIWA acting Managing Director, Danladi Ibrahim have confirmed the new development.
Danladi Ibrahim had stood in as Acting MD for a third time during the one month duration prior to Muoghalu’s appointment.
Muoghalu is the eight Managing Director of NIWA since its inception in 1998. Previous Managing Directors of the agency are; Engr. Diori Rabiu Abubaka, Engr Zubairu Yakubu, Mrs Chinwe Ezenwa ( Acting MD); Arch. Aminu Yar’adua; Mrs Mariam Ciroma, Mr. Boss Mustapha, and Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora.
Muoghalu, a member of APC Board of Trustees, has swiftly been urged to transform the moribund Onitsha River Port by South Eastern youths under the aegis of Youths of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-East.
Chairman of CLO, Anambra Chapter of the body, Mr. Vincent Ezekwueme made this plea yesterday, even as he expressed optimism that Muoghalu’s appointment would ensure a quick turn-around of the fortunes of the Onitsha River Port.
“This is the best independence gift to the people of South-East. It is clear that Buhari has provided the opportunity towards the resuscitation of moribund Onitsha River Port,” he said.
NIWA was established to provide regulatory, economic and operational leadership in the nation’s waterways system and develop infrastructures for an efficient intermodal transportation system in line with global best practices that is safe, seamless and affordable, with a vision to making Nigeria the leader in inland waterways transportation development and management in Africa.
