Activities in Lokoja, the headquarters of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), were brought to a standstill on Saturday as youths of Kogi State staged a massive protest demanding the immediate removal of the agency’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.

The protesters, who took to the streets in their thousands, accused the NIWA boss of sidelining indigenes of Lokoja in employment, contract awards, and decision-making processes, despite the town hosting the agency’s national headquarters.

Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “President Tinubu, Remove NIWA MD/CEO Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji” and “Lokoja Indigenes Are Marginalised by NIWA Management”, the youths, led by Comrade Muhammed Ali, expressed frustration over what they described as continued neglect by the management.

Comrade Ali said, “We are peaceful citizens, but our patience has been overstretched. Lokoja hosts NIWA’s headquarters, yet our people are denied opportunities. We call on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and remove the current MD.”

The protesters later visited the palace of the Maigari of Lokoja, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Kabir Maikarfi IV, who received them warmly and commended their peaceful conduct.

Kabiyesi lamented that previous attempts to reach the NIWA MD had failed. “I have called him several times, sent messages, and even invited him to my palace, but he refused to respond. It is regrettable that he shows no respect for traditional institutions,” he said.

He, however, assured the youths that their grievances would be properly communicated to the relevant authorities, urging them to remain law-abiding.

Comrade Ali also appealed to Kogi State’s National Assembly members, including Senator Sunday Karimi and Hon. Abdullahi Halims Aguye, to intervene and ensure fair representation of Lokoja indigenes in NIWA operations. He accused the MD of favouring indigenes from the Southwest, his home region.

“Nepotism must stop. We demand fairness and inclusiveness in the affairs of NIWA,” Comrade Ali declared.