Yuletide: NIWA Issues Safety Alert, Urge Nigerians To Prioritize Safety

…Peg Boat Recertification Deadline

BY GBOGBOWA GBOWA

Concerned about the safety of Nigerians anticipated, massive movements during the Christmas and New Year festivities, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has issued a safety and security alert urging citizens to prioritize safety while using the country’s inland waterways during the festive season.

In a statement it released yesterday, Wednesday December 18, 2024, NIWA management highlighted the importance of adhering to the Transportation Code 2023, which the authority reiterated has been gazetted and will be strictly enforced to ensure safe water transportation.

NIWA emphasized the need for boat operators and passengers to strictly follow safety measures to prevent avoidable accidents at all time, warning against reckless passenger boats drivers who are wont to flouting safety guidelines.

The guidelines outlined that boat operators have been directed to avoid overloading their boats beyond approved limits and are required to provide functional life jackets to passengers, free of charge.

It will be recalled that NIWA under the present administration has re-doubled efforts at raising travel safety bar through engagements and sensitization programmes, seeking compliance with waterways travel safety codes and guidelines.

Unfortunately, boat users appear unwilling and or careless about safety procedures, and often ignorantly allow unscrupolous boat operators to expose them to dangers and death through overloading, through reckless sailing and through traveling at night, outrightly disallowed by the authority.

The Lagos regional office also recently embarked on the removal of water hyacinths to pave way for free navigation, while the authority continues to be stricter with compliance to ensure that violations are brought to the barest minimum.