The Federal Government says it has deployed 350 water marshals across the nation’s inland waterways flash points to help checkmate incessant boat mishap.
Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, disclosed this on Thursday at Stakeholders’ meeting on Safety and Insecurity on inland waterways organized by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in Abuja.
Oyetola said the marshals are expected to sensitize boat operators and passengers across different loading platforms and ensure a 24-hour surveillance across major jetties and loading points within the inland waterways.
He explained that the government was worried over the death of innocent travellers on waterways, hence the step taken to protect the lives and goods of commuters on the inland waterways.
Oyetola said : “It is illegal to use unregistered crafts on our waters.
“Therefore, every boat operator must be registered and certified by the relevant authorities before navigating on the waterways.
“We have prohibited overloading of goods and passengers, Night sailing beyond 6p.m. and none use of protective gear as part of safety.
“These officers have been further directed to begin 24-hour surveillance across major jetties and loading points within the inland waterways.
“It’s clear to us that we must all work together to defeat issues of illegalities and blatant disregard for established rules on the waterways.”
In his speech, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr Bola Oyebamiji, urged states to collaborate with the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, through NIWA, to achieve safer inland water transport.
Oyebamiji said the agency needs collaboration in the area of training, construction of jetties, route marking and provision of standardised boats and ferries for the people to ease their daily commuting,” he said.
According to him, transport on the inland waterways deserves greater attention than road transport.
“Comparatively, inland waterways had a greater capacity to transport more passengers and goods than other modes of transport at relatively cheaper cost and faster.
“This does not foreclose collaboration and cooperation from states and agencies, including security establishments.
“We, therefore, call on states to collaborate with us in the area of training, construction of jetties, route marking and provision of standardised boats and passenger ferries for their people to ease their daily commuting,” he said.
According to him, the launch of the Transportation Code and the harvest of numerous projects and assets were deployed to inject efficiency into how we conduct our businesses.
“We believe that this meeting, which has brought stakeholders together for a critical appraisal of our challenges, will greatly help us to finding solutions to them.
“NIWA, is indeed grateful to the minister’s leadership, especially in making this meeting a reality,” he said. (vitalnewsngr.com)
