NIWA Warri Area Manager Advocates Strict Safety Compliance On Waterways
The Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in Warri, Delta State, Rufus Oladimeji has emphasized the urgent need for enhanced safety compliance on Nigeria’s waterways.
Speaking on the topic “Operation Safety on Our Waterways,” the Area Manager highlighted the critical importance of protecting lives and property amid ongoing maritime activities.
Addressing an audience of stakeholders the NIWA official underscored that despite regulatory frameworks, boat mishaps and accidents continue to claim lives—often due to preventable causes. “Safety compliance is not just a regulatory requirement but a moral imperative,” the manager stated.
Oladimeji further detailed NIWA’s proactive efforts to promote maritime safety, noting that over 500 life jackets were distributed last year to boat operators and stakeholders in Warri and Sapele.
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This initiative , he stated aligned with broader federal support, as the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy recently provided approximately 5,000 life jackets to each coastal state, reinforcing a nationwide commitment to safety.
Life jackets, the Area Manager stressed, are essential safety equipment that can save lives by keeping individuals afloat even if unconscious or injured. The manager urged all waterway users to understand their importance and use them consistently.
To further improve safety compliance, Oladimeji outlined key measures to include
strict adherence to safety regulations, plus mandatory wearing of life jackets, avoiding overloading, and prohibiting alcohol, drug abuse, and over speeding.
Information sharing and collaboration among stakeholders to promote safety awareness and best practices,the Area Manager also referenced the Marine Safety Code, gazetted in 2023, which enforces strict guidelines and penalties for non-compliance. Key provisions include:
On prohibition of boat overloading to prevent accidents, he stressed the need for enforcement of speed limits to ensure safe navigation, noting that ban on night sailing was due to increased risks.
The Manager issued a stern warning that NIWA, in collaboration with relevant authorities, will prosecute offenders who violate safety regulations, adding that security agencies were called upon to partner actively with the waterways authority in enforcing the Marine Safety Code.
Oladimeji appealed to all stakeholders to foster a culture of safety consciousness and prioritize the use of life jackets. “Let us work together to create a culture of safety consciousness,” the manager urged.