NIWA Seeks Stronger Police Partnership To Boost Inland Waterway Safety

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has called for closer collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force to strengthen safety and security on inland waterways across Cross River and Ebonyi states.

The appeal was made by the newly posted Area Manager of NIWA’s Calabar Area Office, Surveyor Abubakar Wathanafa, during a courtesy visit to the Cross River State Commissioner of Police.

Wathanafa said the partnership would enhance the protection of lives and property, improve regulatory compliance, and promote effective service delivery within the authority’s area of responsibility. He noted that the visit was also aimed at introducing him to the state police command and reinforcing the existing relationship between both agencies.

The NIWA Area Manager expressed his commitment to working closely with the police and other security agencies to safeguard the nation’s inland waterways and ensure a safer operating environment for waterway users.

Responding, the Commissioner of Police, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Etim Godwin, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to supporting NIWA in ensuring the safety and security of inland waterways.

He stressed that the Cross River State Police Command would continue to strengthen partnerships with sister agencies to protect lives, property, and critical national assets while promoting a safe, secure, and well-regulated inland waterway system.

Both agencies concluded the meeting with a commitment to deepen intelligence sharing, operational cooperation, and coordinated efforts to tackle security challenges and improve safety across the inland waterways of Cross River and Ebonyi states.