The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has imposed an immediate ban on loading activities at unauthorised points nationwide to reduce boat accidents and enhance safety on Nigeria’s inland waterways.
The move comes after numerous deadly accidents plagued the waterways over the past six months, including a recent incident in Niger State where at least 27 people died when a boat capsized.
The Managing Director of NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji, announced the new directives during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.
Oladimeji said, “NIWA has placed an immediate ban on loading activities from all unauthorised loading points across the country. No commercial passenger boat shall be allowed to load from any point other than those recognised and registered by NIWA.
“It is mandatory for all commercial boat operators to provide and enforce the use of lifejackets on the boats always. Every commercial passenger boat must properly display its Boat Name Letters and Load line”, he added.
Oyebamiji also directed, “all unlicensed boats and watercraft be removed from the waterways.”
“All unlicensed boat drivers and operators are banned from operating any boats or watercraft on the waterways.”
Over the past six months, numerous deadly accidents have plagued Nigeria’s inland waterways.
In August, rescue workers said they were searching for more than 40 people after a boat accident in Sokoto.
About one year before that, at least 16 farmers died in a similar accident when a wooden canoe carrying them across a river to their rice fields capsized in Sokoto state.
Experts have blamed poor regulation, non-adherence to safety measures as some of the causes of the frequent incidents.
NIWA’s initiatives have already reduced waterway accidents and deaths by more than 70 per cent compared to previous years.
However, the authority stressed that more needs to be done to achieve an accident-free waterway system.
NIWA is working to deepen collaboration with the Marine Police, Nigerian Navy, and other stakeholders to enforce safety regulations and prevent future incidents.
