In a bid to curb incessant boat accidents, the Nationwide Inland Waterways Authority mentioned it is going to think about phasing out the operations of picket boats on Nigerian waterways.
The Managing Director of NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji, disclosed this on Friday throughout a media parley with journalists in Lagos.
Oyebamiji, whereas describing this transfer as one of the best strategy to holistically handle boat accidents throughout the nation, asserted that he can be participating the Marine and Blue Economic system Minister, Adegboyega Oyetola, and the Presidency to make this transfer a nationwide directive.
“We’re contemplating phasing out picket boats, particularly passenger boats,” Oyebamiji mentioned.
In line with him, the event will likely be launched in phases with short-term, medium-term, and long-term objectives to make sure inland waterways operations aren’t severely hampered.
In the meantime, the NIWA boss famous that the authority had elevated its sensitisation at riverine communities, particularly with conventional and non secular leaders, to bolster grassroots consciousness campaigns.
He maintained that after launching the Inland Waterways Transportation Code, the company moved to interact conventional and non secular leaders.
He talked about that NIWA has subsequently elevated the variety of waterways marshals from 80 to 350 for the enforcement of the transportation code.
“Our expertise in Gbajigbo, Niger State, spurred us to interact the Transportation Commissioners throughout the 24 states with navigable waterways. We had a gathering in Abuja and 23 out of the 24 commissioners have been in attendance,” Oyebamiji acknowledged.
He inspired state governments with navigable waterways and personal sector operators to spend money on belongings to make sure security and environment friendly operations.
He reiterated the necessity for inland waterways operators to make the most of normal life jackets and curb nighttime actions throughout the nation.
“Wrecks are additionally one of many triggers for boat accidents however we’re partnering with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Security Company NIMASA to deal with this menace.
“Nonetheless, human errors equivalent to overloading, nighttime journey, and inefficient boat driving are extra frequent causes of accidents,” Oyebamiji concluded.