NIWA bans unauthorised boat loading points

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has banned all unauthorised boat loading points across the country.

According to NAN, Bola Oyebamiji, managing director (MD) of NIWA, spoke on Tuesday at a news conference in Abuja to address concerns over recurring boat mishaps.

Oyebamiji said commercial passenger boats would only be permitted to load from points recognised and registered by NIWA.

“It is mandatory for all commercial boat operators to provide and enforce the use of life jackets on the boats always,” he said.

“Every commercial passenger boat must properly display its Boat Name Letters and Load line, and all unlicensed boats and watercrafts are to be removed from the waterways.”

The NIWA boss added that unlicensed boat drivers and operators are banned from operating on the waterways.

He reiterated NIWA’s commitment to safe waterways, especially through its continuous removal of aquatic waste, logs, wrecks and other impediments from waterways that could hinder safe navigation.

Oyebamiji said NIWA had increased the number of its water marshals from 80 to 350 to ensure that passengers are given safety tips before departure and to reinforce strict enforcement of the “no life jacket, no boarding” policy.

The managing director added that passenger manifests have been deployed to NIWA’s area offices across the country to record passenger information at recognised jetties and loading points for administrative purposes.

He said the authority has also installed marine navigational buoys, conducted hydrographic surveys, and intensified the training of boat operators.

The NIWA MD said this was done to ensure safe water channels, safe navigation, and to prevent boat mishaps, and protect lives and properties.

Oyebamiji attributed recent successful rescues on the waterways to the use of life jackets and the activation of rescue teams and stations, which he said have reduced emergency response time to less than 30 minutes.

NIWA SEEKS COASTAL GUARD LAW

The MD, however, called for the establishment of a coastal guard law to strengthen monitoring of waterways and improve emergency response.

“Based on the innovations and renewed commitment to our mandates, NIWA has reduced the rate of accidents and deaths on the inland waterways by more than 70 percent compared to the previous years,” he said.

“But we can do more if the proposed Coastal Guards for Inland Waterways is established and operational.

“The authority believes that an important operational tools, such as the coastal guards, will go a long way in strengthening its enforcement drive for better result.”

The managing director said NIWA is working on partnerships with the marine police and the Nigerian navy, especially to enforce the ban on overloading and night sailing.

Oyebamiji urged riverine state governments to partner with NIWA on safety campaigns, training of boat operators, distribution of life jackets, provision of landing platforms, and deployment of modern passenger ferries.

He said the authority would sustain engagements with subnational governments, particularly in training boat operators, promoting safety awareness, and providing standard passenger ferries.

The MD commended Adegboyega Oyetola, minister of marine and blue economy, for his consistent support in boosting the authority’s capacity and improving safety on the nation’s waterways.