By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
A socio-political group under the aegis of Concerned Lokoja Youth Forum (CLYF), has again criticised the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, accusing him of continued marginalisation of Lokoja indigenes in the agency’s employment and contract opportunities.
The group’s leader, Comrade Kasim Danladi Sulaiman, made the accusation during a press conference held in Lokoja on Sunday, where he lamented that despite repeated calls for fairness, the management of NIWA has allegedly refused to integrate qualified indigenes of the host community into its workforce and decision-making structure.
According to Sulaiman, it is disheartening that NIWA, whose national headquarters is situated in Lokoja, has continually sidelined the people of the area while favouring individuals from other parts of the country, especially Osun State where the current MD hails from.
“Our people have been systematically excluded from employment and contract opportunities in NIWA. The headquarters is in our land, yet we are treated as strangers,” he said.
“We expected the new management to correct these injustices, but the situation has only worsened. Most senior positions and major projects are being handled from Abuja, leaving the Lokoja office almost redundant,” Sulaiman added.
He further warned that the group would not hesitate to mobilise youths and civil society organisations for a peaceful demonstration if the agency continues to neglect their demands for inclusion.
The group also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene and direct the NIWA management to ensure fair representation of Lokoja indigenes in employment, promotion, and contract allocations.
Sulaiman noted that the people of Lokoja have always been peaceful and supportive of the agency since its establishment, but said their patience should not be mistaken for weakness.
He added that the community deserves to benefit from the presence of NIWA, which has occupied a significant portion of their ancestral land for decades.
“NIWA has enjoyed a cordial relationship with our people for years, but in recent times, the leadership has shown total disregard for our interest. This is unacceptable, and we will continue to speak until justice is done,” he said.
He also accused the agency of relocating most of its core administrative activities to Abuja, describing the development as an attempt to render the Lokoja headquarters ineffective.
“If the headquarters is in Lokoja, why is everything being done in Abuja? It is a clear case of insensitivity to the host community,” he queried.
Community leaders and other youth organisations present at the event echoed similar concerns, stressing that the marginalisation of Lokoja indigenes has reached an alarming level and must be addressed before it degenerates into unrest.
Recall that a similar group recently staged a protest at the Maigari Palace in Lokoja, accusing NIWA of sidelining indigenes in employment and contracts, and threatening to take their grievances to Abuja if the situation remained unresolved.
The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions such as “NIWA MD Must Go” and “Stop Marginalising Lokoja Indigenes”, had also called on Senator Sunday Karimi, representing Kogi West, and other political leaders to wade into the matter to prevent further tension.
Observers say the renewed outcry underscores growing discontent among youths and opinion leaders in Lokoja over what they describe as the agency’s continued neglect of the host community.
Until now, NIWA management could not be reached for comment.
