WABOTAN Begs NIWA To Reduce Cost On Issuance Of License Permit For Operators

By Roland Ekama

Boat operators under the auspices of Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association (WABOTAN) has decried the high levy imposition on operators by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) for the issuance of license permit, even as it solicited for a downward review by the government agency.

In a chat with journalists over the weekend , President of the WABOTAN), Engr. Babatunde Fajemirokun stated that boat operators and drivers are unable to acquire the requisite licenses by the regulators due to high cost attached to it.

The President quipped that the leadership of the association has been appealing to the management of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) for reduction in the cost of acquiring the license.

The license is aimed at regulating the influx and arbitrariness of boat drivers and to reduce the accident rate on the waterways.

According to him the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) charge lesser amount when compared to what NiWA is demanding.

He affirmed that “Presently, we are still talking to them. It is not an issue to get a license but what the drivers are talking about is the fee. The amount for the licence is on the high side.

“It is about N75,000 but what we are doing with NIMASA is less than N20,000. We want NIWA to come down so that we can be able to afford it and we are already talking to the management on the issue. There is hope that they will listen to us,” he maintained.

On the complaints by stakeholders that the new Managing Director/CEO of NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji is yet to have audience with the stakeholders especially as boat mishaps increase on the waterways, he said the MD had promised to engage the stakeholders before the end of the month of March.

“We have written to him and has replied us, he is very busy but he has promised to meet with us before the end of this month to address the stakeholders. You know he is new in the system.”

Engr. Fajemirokun added that NIWA is organising a program for the boat drivers to sensitise them on necessary tips to avoid accidents on the waterways

His words, “Today’s program is just like a seminar for boat captains and decan on what that expect from us and what we should be expecting from them before the end of the year.”