The Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr Bola Oyebamiji, has attributed
the major causes of boat accidents that have occurred in the past three years to
human errors, drugs and disobedience to the rules and regulations.
He disclosed this on Wednesday while fielding questions from members of the House Representatives Committee on NIWA who were on oversight assignment at the headquarters of the authority in Lokoja, Kogi State.
“Ninety nine (99) per cent of the mishaps on the waterways were a result of human errors. Research has shown that operators are committing avoidable mistakes which shouldn’t have caused havoc,” he said
He expressed disgust that some of the operators depended on drugs to make them high which influenced them to make unpardonable mistakes.
He, however, expressed NIWA’s commitment to the safety of Nigerians using water transportation.
Oyabamiji added that some operators disobey rules and regulations guiding water transportation.
“Imagine wooden boats taking over 150 to 200 passengers at a go over and above its capacity.”
He stressed that the transportation code required revalidation since the operators had not been strictly following the code recently signed, while others were not providing required life jackets for their passengers.
He disclosed that the regulation code only provided N30,000 as a penalty for offenders.
The Chairman of the House Committee on NIWA, Mr. Ojema Ojotu, who led a team of seven members to Lokoja, explained that the inland waterways were pivotal to Nigeria’s transportation framework and guaranteed immense potential for enhancing connectivity, reducing road congestion and stimulating economic growth.
“As representatives of the people, we must ensure that this potential is harnessed effectively for the benefit of all Nigerians,” he said.
“This visit provides us with the platform to scrutinise critical areas such as operational efficiency, safety on our waterways, infrastructure development, and the overall management of resources allocated to NIWA,” Ojotu added.
“We recognise the unique challenges associated with managing waterways, including the recurring issues of boat mishaps, flooding in vulnerable regions along the waterways, and the demand for modernized infrastructure such as inland ports and navigable channels. As we deliberate today, it is imperative to consider how these challenges can be addressed to enhance safety, efficiency, and economic viability.
“The strategic importance of inland ports cannot be overstated, especially in fostering internal and regional trade and serving as vital links in our national logistics chain,” Ojotu added.
He stressed that the dredging of waterways were crucial to unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s inland transportation system, ensuring seamless connectivity and uninterrupted operations.
“Additionally, there is a need for human capacity development and procure essential operational equipment, such as boats, to enhance safety enforcement, ensure rapid emergency responses, and deliver efficient services. While government funding remains critical, it is evident that traditional financing models may not suffice to meet the infrastructure and capacity building demands of NIWA’s mandate.
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