The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has constituted a Special Committee to review the operations of commercial boat operators in coastal and inland waterways with a view to addressing incessant boat mishaps across thecountry.
Speaking at a meeting in Abuja with heads of agencies overseen by the Ministry, Oyetola, noted that it has become a matter of urgent concern, hence the need to proffer solutions to reduce it to the barest minimum.
The Committee is expected to reveiw and come up with recommendations and actionable plans that would checkmate the menace.
The Committee has the Managing Director, National Inland Waterways (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji as Chairman.
Other members include the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Dayo Mobereola; the Executive Director of the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Prof. Sule Abiodun; the Executive Director of the National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR), Dr. A.M. Sule; the Provost of the Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology (FCFFT), Dr. Babatunde Olaosebikan; the Technical Adviser to the Minister, Prof. B. Fakinlede; and Mr. A. Offie as the Secretary.
The Terms of Reference to guide the Committee include but not limited to:. Review the existing commercial boat transport operations and assess: boat mishaps and its causative factors;
current boat operations safety & sbecurity compliance; and existing boat specifications in relation to acceptable standards.
Develop a comprehensive plan to address the findings from the assessment and guarantee safe commercial boat transport operations in Coastal and Inland Waterway;
Develop standard design specification for basic categories of commercial boats for Coastal and Inland Waterway; and
Consider any other related measures/issues as may be deemed appropriate for a safe and viable commercial boat operations in our coastal and Inland waterway transport system that would address incessant boat mishaps.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Information & Press in the ministry, Anastasia Ogbonna, the Committee has 21 days to complete the assignment and submit a comprehensive report to the Ministry.
