COVID-19: NIWA Distributes Buses, Patrol Boats To States, Agencies

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) says it had distributed water buses and patrol boats for use by relevant state and federal agencies in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.
This is as the agency has donated N10 million to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Lagos State Government in the fight against the deadly virus.
This was contained in  a statement  by NIWA in Lokoja, Kogi State, and made available to The Tide.
The statement reads: “Further to our earlier financial contributions, the Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority has authorised the release of the authority’s water buses, security patrol boats and other craft for use by relevant states and federal agencies in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These crafts are useful for moving personnel and materials to and from the riverine communities, as well as maintaining security on our inland waterways”.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Lagos Seaports and Marine Command, has arrested six stowaways at about 3 nautical miles off the Lagos fairway buoy.
The stowaways, who are all Nigerians, allegedly boarded a South Africa-bound vessel, MV GRAND DUKE with Panama flag along the Lagos channel while sailing at slow speed.
Public Relations Officer of the Command, Augustus Maisor, who disclosed this in a statement, identified the stowaways as Pedro Desmond Peter (27) from Borno State; Noah Osas Richard (24), Edo State; Eze Paul (36), Imo State; Elijah Sunday (35); Adewale Thompson Oki (29) and Paul Oguns (24), all from Ondo State.
The statement said in consonance with the NCDC guidelines on COVID-19, the stowaways (all male) were subjected to temperature check by Port Health officials before profiling by personnel of the command.
She said the six suspects would be handed over to the Police for interrogations and prosecutions.

Chinedu Wosu