Steps Up Campaigns On Safety and regulation

The Managing Director and Chief Executive officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, has disclosed that the Agency, within the last one year of his appointment; under the supervisory effort of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr Gboyega Oyetola, CON, has a new Water Transportation Code, 2023

Addressing newsmen and  media executives at an interactive session at the Sheraton Hotel in Lagos, The NIWA boss said  his Agency has  deployed several operational assets including 15 boats of varying capacities and uses to promote efficiency and service delivery on Nigerian Waterways.

Oyebamiji said the management of NIWA under his watch has provided greater incentives to staff through the official commissioning of several capital projects to promote a better working environment while prioritizing  the welfare of all cadre of workers within the Agency.

“Within one year, NIWA has carried out more grassroots safety campaign than at any other time within the same period. We have deployed water marshals across different loading and offloading points in the country. It may interest you to know that 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” Oyebamiji said

Highlighting steps taken by  to ensure safety and security along the waterways, the NIWA Managing Director further disclosed that the Agency recently  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” he said.

“We have noted the need to increase the level of awareness and campaign within the sector.  We urge you, the general public 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. We therefore call on the media and all Nigerians to join us in educating our people on the need to be safety conscious always” Oyebamiji appealed.

No doubt, NIWA is concerned and working hard to ensure safety and security for all boat users across Nigeria.