To tackle incessant boat accidents on the waterways, the Federal Government has unveiled a Water Transportation Code to guide boat operators, regulate the conduct of passengers and provide a framework for potential investors in water transportation.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Gboyega Oyetola during a working visit to the headquarters of the Nigeria Inland Waterways (NIWA) in Lokoja stressed that with the code, the government cannot now standardize water transportation thereby reducing accidents on the waters to the nearest minimum. He then charged NIWA to ensure the enforcement of the regulations.
Oyetola further commissioned 15 boats of varying capacities and uses, comprising 2 boats with 150 Horsepower each for surveillance to ensure that the NIWA Police officers are more visible, 5 boats with doubles 75 Horsepower each for enforcement of safety rules and regulations; one Gun Patrol Boat (combat ready) with 115Horsepower for emergency response to security threat; and one 62-seater passenger boat as a pilot scheme to replace the wooden passenger canoe.
Other projects that were commissioned include (3) fully equipped water ambulances for prompt response to emergencies and two hydrographic survey boats with multi-beam echo sounders to provide a more detailed and accurate picture of the seafloor among other projects.
The Minister noted that the inauguration of the projects was in fulfillment of commitment to ensuring that the Inland Waterways are well utilised both in terms of cargo shipment and passenger transportation.
While acknowledging that of the 10, 000 kilometres of Nigeria waterways, only 3,000 kilometres are navigable, he expressed the determination of the government to increase them by at least 2,000 kilometres more.
To achieve this, he disclosed that the government is embarking on the holistic dredging of strategically important inland Waterways for the passage of goods and people.
Oyetola further disclosed that the government was engaging relevant stakeholders to finalise the arrangement for the disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) for the development of the maritime sector.
He assured “As a ministry, we will continue to create the enabling environment, develop policies and offer the necessary support to grow the Inland Waterways segment of the maritime sector in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.”
The Managing Director of NIWA Bola Oyebamiji in his remarks stated that since he resumed office last 7month the country has recorded not less than three fatal boat accidents on the waterways in different locations which challenged their emergency response strategies.
He admitted that they discovered agap in their approach to enforcement on the waterways and public enlightenment programmes, saying these and many more challenged them to look inward and harness available resources innovatively for immediate response.
The MD however mentioned that the agency is confronted with challenges such as inter-agencies rivalry occasioned by overlapping functions, saying this calls for speedy action on the NIWA Act currently before the National Assembly.
While appealing for the urgent disbursements of Cabotage Fund, he pleaded for the Minister’s support in facilitating funding for major Key Performance Indicators; the Capital dredging of 2000 km and the completion of the ongoing inland port at Ganaja, Lokoja.
