NIWA vows to enforce waterways transportation code, seeks phase -out of wooden boats to reduce accidents

The Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority ( NIWA) Bola Oyebamiji has vowed to enforce the waterways transportation code to curb the high- rate of boat accidents on the nation’s inland waterways.

The transportation code which was recently gazetted into law introduces stringent penalties for offenses such as overloading vessels, failing to provide life jackets, and operating boats without proper registration.

Speaking at a media parley with journalists in Lagos on Friday, Oyebamiji said the agency will also prevail on the federal government to phase out the use of wooden boats, which are more prone to accidents.

He said most cases of boat accidents on Nigerian waterways are caused by human error, poor attitude, and blatant disregard for safety protocols including ban on night travel and wearing of life jackets.

He said compliance with the transportation code will be enforced and offenders be brought to book.

According to him, “The enforcement of the waterways ransportation code is non negotiable.”

The NIWA MD noted that the twin issues of safety and insecurity on the inland waterways always overshadow every gain recorded by NIWA whenever it happens saying that to confront this headlong, the agency have reconsidered its safety campaign approach to focus more on the grassroots using traditional rulers and other community resources.

He said NIWA inder his leadership has also deployed water marshals on 24- hour operation across different loading and offloading points in the country to combat night traveling and overloading.

He said, “”Within the last one year of my appointment, we have deployed several operational assets including 15 boats of varying capacities and uses to promote efficiency and service delivery.

“Similarly, we have provided greater incentives to our workers through the official commissioning of several capital projects to promote a better working environment. Not only this, we have continued to treat the welfare of our workers as a priority always.

“Within one year, NIWA has carried out more grassroots safety campaign than at any other time within the same period.

“Also, we have deployed water marshals across different loading and offloading points in the country.

“Within three months of its launch, we have increased the number of our water marshals from 80 to 350 personnel. Recently, these officers were directed to commence 24-hour surveillance within selected locations to arrest the ugly incident of night travel and overloading.

“Just yesterday in Abuja, we gathered the critical stakeholders in a meeting for several hours to evaluate the current challenges on inland waterways transportation and find possible solutions. The meeting which had in attendance the Honourable Commissioners of Transportation from more than 24 states, among other groups, highlighted several important measures that must be taken to arrest the twin issues of safety and insecurity on the inland waterways.

“Of note, is the need to increase the level of awareness and campaign within the sector. Hence this meeting. We urge you, as opinion shapers, to partner with NIWA, in its mission to promote safer waterways through media advocacy.”

“This is important to us because of all the causes of accidents on our waterways, human error takes the lead.

“A further evaluation reveals that poor attitude and blatant disregard for safety protocol account for the greatest cause of boat mishaps.”

The NIWA boss said most of the accidents recorded on the waterways are with wooden boats.

He, however, said the plan to phase out wooden boats will be introduced in phases with short, medium and long term goals to ensure inland waterways operations are not hampered.