Passengers’ Safety: NIWA To Enforce Boats’ Operational Hours

The National Inland
Waterways Authority (NIWA), says  plans are on to ensure that boat operators in Lagos closed shop at 7pm in compliance with stipulated operational hours nationwide.
The Area Manager of NIWA in Lagos, Mr Mu’azu Sambo, told newsmen that the measure would engender a pro-active approach to its risk assessment efforts toward ensuring safety of passengers travelling on the country’s waterways.
Sambo also said that a number of people, who serve as beach masters had been selected for merchant navy training.
“You know as a matter of law in Lagos, water crafts carrying passengers are not supposed to ply the waterways from 7 p.m.
“Now, what we do is that we ensure that this regulation is complied with by making sure that all jetties are shut down at 7 pm.
“Now, what we are in the process of doing, we have not concluded, because it is a tremendous task which has just started not long ago, is in collaboration with the association of tourist boat operators and water transporters of Nigeria, that is AGBOATON, we have nominated people from their association for each jetty, there will be designated beach masters.
“They will be given some merchant Navy training after, which they will be deployed to each jetty.
“One of their primary responsibilities will be to ensure the compliance of all regulations concerning water transportation, including the one on banning transportation at night.“
According to Sambo, water transportation in the country is regulated by laws to ensure the safety of passengers contrary to reports that the business has no guidelines.
The Tide source, reports that some stakeholders had attributed the recent increase in the incidence of boat mishaps in the country to night travel.