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NIWA Bans Unregistered Jetties, Unveils Safety Measures to Combat Waterways Accidents
NIWA Bans Unregistered Jetties, Unveils Safety Measures to Combat Waterway Accidents
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has announced comprehensive safety measures to address increasing waterway accidents across Nigeria, including an outright ban on unregistered jetties and unauthorised loading points.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, NIWA Managing Director Bola Oyebamiji outlined several immediate enforcement measures following recent boat accidents in Niger State.
The new directives include:
– Complete prohibition of loading activities at unauthorised points nationwide
– Mandatory provision of lifejackets by all commercial operators
– Clear display of boat names and load lines on all vessels
– Removal of unlicensed boats and watercraft from Nigerian waterways
– Ban on operations by unlicensed drivers and operators
Oyebamiji urged riverine states to collaborate with NIWA on comprehensive safety initiatives, including operator training programmes, lifejacket procurement and distribution, provision of modern landing platforms, and deployment of upgraded ferry systems.
The Authority also announced plans to deepen collaboration with the Marine Police and Nigerian Navy to enforce critical safety regulations, particularly the ban on overloading, night sailing between 6pm and 6am, and mandatory lifejacket usage.
According to the NIWA chief, the Authority’s recent initiatives have reduced waterway accidents and fatalities by over 70 percent compared to previous years. However, he emphasised the need for continued improvement.
“Based on our innovations and renewed commitment to our mandates, we have reduced waterway accidents and deaths by more than 70 percent. But we must do more,” Oyebamiji stated.
He reiterated calls for establishing Coastal Guards for Inland Waterways, describing it as crucial enforcement infrastructure that would significantly strengthen NIWA’s safety operations.
Since the current management’s appointment in October 2023 by President Bola Tinubu, NIWA has implemented extensive reforms aimed at reducing waterway accidents.
Key achievements include:
– Gazetting and launching the long-awaited Water Transportation Code within six months
– Inaugurating 15 new operational assets, including patrol boats, water ambulances, survey boats and passenger ferries
– Commissioning new facilities including the NIWA Clinic and administrative building at Lokoja headquarters
The Authority has significantly expanded its enforcement capacity, increasing Water Marshals from 80 personnel at inception to 350 nationwide. These marshals strictly enforce the “No Lifejacket, No Boarding” regulation at recognised jetties.
NIWA has also introduced a manifest system at registered jetties to improve passenger record-keeping and reactivated Search and Rescue Stations, reducing emergency response time to under 30 minutes.
The Authority conducted safety awareness campaigns in over 300 communities in 2024 alone, complemented by multilingual campaigns across radio, television, print and digital platforms.
On the technical front, NIWA has intensified channel maintenance for safer navigation, installing marine navigational buoys on the Lower and Upper Niger rivers. Hydrographic surveys covering 624 kilometres from Warri to Baro Port have been completed, while ongoing efforts remove aquatic waste, logs and wrecks from waterways.
In October 2024, NIWA convened a stakeholders’ meeting with state transportation commissioners and maritime stakeholders in Abuja, producing a communique outlining federal and state government responsibilities for eliminating boat accidents.
Several states have begun implementing these commitments, with Niger State highlighted as a leading example in providing ferries and lifejackets to citizens.
Oyebamiji commended Marine and Blue Economy Minister Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola for his support, noting that the Ministry helped distribute over 45,000 standard lifejackets across 12 states in the last four months while leading safety campaigns in Niger and Bayelsa states.
The NIWA chief described waterway safety as “a national duty requiring collective efforts of all stakeholders” in achieving an accident-free waterway system.