NIWA To Flag Off e-Registration Of Commercial Boat Operators In January

In line with the federal government policy on the ease of doing business, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has reiterated its commitment to flag off e-registration platform of commercial boat operations  in January 2022, even as the Authority on Thursday, commissioned three patrol boats.

 

The waterways authority also inaugurated a task force team that will patrol Lagos waterways to ensure operators key into the Federal Government directive on safety.

 

NIWA also disclosed that it will commence training of the taskforce personnel in October 2021.

 

The newly commissioned  water crafts  christened Uyo, Daura and Badagry will be deployed to patrol the Lagos inland waterways in furtherance to ensure safety, orderliness and sanity.

Speaking after commissioning three patrol boats, the Managing Director of NIWA, George Moghalu explained that the agency procured a total of 20 patrol boats and decided to deploy three for the Lagos brown waterways.

 

Moghalu noted that, “We have procured 20 patrol boats for all the nations inland waterways. We will be procuring more as the demand arises, but for now, we have twenty patrol boats and we have decided to deploy three of the boats for the Lagos inland waterways.

 

 

“We have also inaugurated a Task force that will man these boats. The responsibility of these patrol boats is to ensure compliance on the Lagos inland waterways by boat operators.

 

“One of our headaches is the penchant by operators to overload boats. Many of the accidents that have claimed lives on our inland waterways has been down to overloading issues.

 

“Another problem we encounter on the waterways is the refusal to wear Life Jackets for passengers during ferry services by boat operators.

 

 

“It will be the responsibility of these Task Force to ensure compliance on our waterways henceforth. The three patrol boats will comb the Lagos inland waterways on a 24hpirs basis to apprehend operators who default on these safety rules. Anybody caught flouting these safety regulations will be arrested henceforth.

 

“We appreciate the collaborative efforts of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and other government agencies. We will continue to look forward to collaborating with sister agencies to ensure that water transportation is safe and efficient.

 

 

“Another issue that has been bothering us has to do with night boat trips. Our directive is clear, boats should not ply the waterways once it’s 6:30 pm in the evening. Many of the boat mishaps have occured at night. Our patrol boats will be combing the waterways in the evening to apprehend those defaulting on this directive.”

 

On activities of fishermen and Dredgers whose operation constitute a threat to the safe navigation of the inland waterways in Lagos, the NIWA helmsman explained that the agency’s Lagos Area Office will be meeting with fishermen and Dredgers to let them know why they need to work with caution.

 

 

While speaking on the e-registration,  General Manager ,Marine NIWA ,Engineer Joseph Ororo said the online platform would bring about less human contact in the workability process adding that it gives room for easy renewal of licenses.

 

The GM affirmed  that NIWA has mandate to renew and to register boat operators within the inland  waterways , pointing out that marine operations is not an comers affairs.

 

On training  and capacity building, Engr. Ororo

, he noted that manpower development would be extended to tugboat operators stressing that NIWA would soon introduced inland transport code,which is currently under the Ministry of Justice for proper scrutiny.

 

 

 

Earlier in her speech, the Lagos Area Manager, Engineer Sarat Braimah appreciated the NIWA MD for the support giving thus far for the Lagos office of the agency.

 

She added the with patrol boats were deployed to the Lagos waterways as part of effort to maintain sanity, orderliness and control of operations.

 

The Lagos  Area Manager added that the taskforce comprise members from the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria MWUN, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Association of Tourists Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON) and training of personnel will commence in October.

 

By Roland Ekama