The Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Umar Yusuf Girei, has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ensuring safety on Nigeria’s inland waterways through stronger regulations, stakeholder engagement and sustained public sensitisation.
Girei made this known on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to NIWA headquarters in Lokoja by the management of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), where both agencies pledged closer collaboration to curb the rising cases of boat mishaps across the country.
He noted that NIWA’s core mandate includes guaranteeing safe navigation on waterways, stressing that many of the accidents recorded are largely due to human factors such as negligence, overloading and non-compliance with safety measures.
According to him, the authority has intensified awareness campaigns to educate water transport users on the importance of adhering to safety guidelines, particularly the compulsory use of life jackets.
“We are working tirelessly to ensure a safe navigation season every year. Most of the mishaps we experience on our waterways are caused by human errors, and that is why we are aggressively sensitising the public,” he said.
Girei further disclosed that NIWA would deepen its collaboration with the NSIB to develop strategies aimed at preventing accidents and improving safety standards across the nation’s waterways.
He warned against the dangers of overloading boats and night travel, urging operators and passengers to strictly comply with safety regulations to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.
“We will continue to advise water users to navigate safely, avoid overloading and desist from night journeys. Safety must be everyone’s responsibility,” he added.
The NIWA boss also emphasised the agency’s inclusive approach, noting that all relevant stakeholders are being carried along in its safety initiatives to ensure effective compliance and shared responsibility.
To address the persistent incidents on the waterways, Girei revealed that NIWA is strengthening enforcement of its transportation code, adding that violators would face strict sanctions.
“The regulatory framework is already in place and harmonised. We are now moving into full enforcement to curb the menace on our waterways,” he stated.
In his speech, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Captain Alex Badeh Junior, expressed concern over the rising number of casualties on Nigeria’s waterways, stressing the need for urgent collaboration with the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to address the menace.
According to him, the visit was to explore areas of collaboration that would ensure safer navigation and significantly cut down the high rate of boat mishaps resulting in loss of lives.
While emphasizing the importance of sustained public enlightenment and advocacy, he urged NIWA to intensify sensitization campaigns on safety regulations to ensure compliance among waterway users, noting that part of the collaboration would involve strengthening regulatory frameworks, capacity building, and technical support for NIWA personnel.
“We will provide training for NIWA staff and support the Authority in strengthening its regulatory processes. We also intend to lobby for increased funding, as enforcement and public enlightenment are capital intensive,” he said.
The NSIB DG while highlighting the need for strict adherence to safety measures, particularly the use of life jackets by passengers, described it as a key factor in reducing fatalities during accidents, warning against night travel on waterways.
“Most accidents happen in the evening, and we will work with NIWA to discourage night navigation. We will also support efforts to educate the public on the importance of wearing life jackets at all times while on the waterways,” he said.
The collaboration between NSIB and NIWA is expected to enhance safety standards, reduce accidents, and save lives across Nigeria’s inland waterways.