The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has urged boat operators, passengers, and other users of the nation’s waterways to strictly adhere to safety rules ahead of the festive season to prevent avoidable mishaps.
NIWA Managing Director, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, conveyed this message through the agency’s Area Manager, Engr. Stanley Onuoha, during the third-quarter Safety Awareness and Simulation Programme for maritime stakeholders held at Safe Journey Beach, Calabar, over the weekend.
Engr. Onuoha said the initiative was part of NIWA’s statutory responsibility to reduce boat accidents, loss of lives, and property damage often caused by negligence, poor safety practices, and non-compliance with operational standards.
He explained that the sensitization aimed to remind operators and passengers about the importance of using life jackets, maintaining and servicing operational boats, and adhering to navigational and safety regulations.
According to him, the campaign also seeks to educate stakeholders on existing laws and the National Inland Waterways Transportation Regulations, while fostering stronger collaboration between government agencies, local communities, and security outfits for effective enforcement of safety standards.
“The programme is not a one-off event but part of NIWA’s continuous engagement strategy with stakeholders to understand their challenges and jointly find sustainable solutions for safer waterways,” he said.
The Area Manager commended boat operators in Cross River State for achieving about 80 percent compliance with safety guidelines, a development he credited for the significant reduction in fatal boat accidents in the state over the past three years.
He thanked the state government and other partners for their cooperation and urged continued collaboration to make the waterways safer and more efficient as an engine of socio-economic growth for both Cross River and the country.
In a goodwill message, the Commissioner for Transport, Ekpenyong Cobham, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Gabriel Ukwade, said the waterways face challenges such as aging infrastructure, erratic weather, human error, and limited enforcement.
He described these issues as “matters of life and death,” calling for stronger investment in training for seafarers and port workers, as well as better inter-agency collaboration.
Also speaking, Hon. Effiong Ekarika, member representing Calabar South I Constituency in the State House of Assembly, attributed recurring cases of kidnapping along the waterways to the proliferation of unregulated jetties.
He called for the establishment of a single standard jetty for all boats to enhance supervision and security.
The representative of the Maritime Workers Union in Calabar, Engr. Abasi Okor Ekpo Eyo, appreciated the Federal Government for donating life jackets but urged authorities to urgently address the worsening security situation along the waterways.
He also appealed for harmonization of taxes imposed on boat operators to ensure smoother operations.
The event featured a safety sensitization session on boat operations and inland waterways codes, simulation exercises on emergency response, and the distribution of over 200 new life jackets to operators. More than 20 stakeholders were also decorated as NIWA Ambassadors.
The programme was attended by representatives of security agencies, community leaders, maritime associations, youths, and other key stakeholders.
Guardian Newspapers
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