The National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, has announced plans to gradually phase out wooden boats on Nigeria’s inland waterways to enhance safety.
NIWA’s Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, discussed the initiative with editors in Lagos, emphasizing the safety hazards posed by the extensive use of wooden boats, which constitute over 90% of vessels on the waterways and contribute significantly to waterway accidents.
Highlighting safety breaches like night travel, overloading, and lack of life jacket use, Oyebamiji noted: “Travelling at night is a criminal offence. Most of these wooden boats lack proper lighting and are often operated by individuals with minimal formal education.”
To address these issues in the short term, NIWA has increased the number of marshals at jetties from 80 to 350, enforcing regulations nationwide and conducting awareness campaigns in both English and local languages. These campaigns educate operators and passengers on the risks of unsafe practices, such as night travel and overloading.
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For long-term solutions, Oyebamiji disclosed that NIWA is working closely with the Presidency and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, led by Minister Adegboyega Oyetola, to eventually replace wooden boats with safer alternatives. Additional patrol boats will be deployed to enforce NIWA’s safety codes, with support from the Nigerian Navy.
Addressing attitudes towards safety, Oyebamiji remarked: “A lot of people invoke God when discussing waterway safety, but our actions are often the root cause. Through education, awareness, and penalties, we aim for zero fatalities on our waterways.”
Wooden boats currently represent over 90% of the vessels operating on Nigeria’s inland waterways. However, they are also linked to a disproportionate number of accidents. Oyebamiji highlighted that these boats often disregard essential operational regulations, such as the absence of life jackets for both operators and passengers.
This initiative marks a pivotal step towards enhancing maritime safety in Nigeria, reflecting a growing recognition of the need for modernized practices in water transport management.
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