NIWA Deploys 350 Water Marshals to Boost Safety Across Nigerian Waterways
By DAPO OLAWUNI
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has deployed 350 Water Marshals across various platforms to raise awareness on safety measures for boat operators and passengers navigating Nigeria’s inland waterways.
This initiative, part of a broader campaign to ensure safer transportation on the waterways, was unveiled during a stakeholders’ meeting on safety and security, held in Abuja on October 24, 2024.
In his address, the Managing Director and CEO of NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji, emphasized the need for continuous sensitization to protect passengers and operators from accidents and hazards on the waterways.
He noted that the marshals would be stationed at various loading platforms to ensure adherence to safety protocols, adding that over 350 boat operators and drivers had already undergone training within the first half of the year.
Oyebamiji praised the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy for its commitment to the sector, stating, “Today’s gathering is yet another in the series of innovative ideas that have been pushed forward to improve our inland waterways. We have chosen to communicate with the public in local languages, implementing sensitization programs in more than 25 states.”
He also highlighted efforts to remove navigational impediments and ensure smoother travel.
“We have realigned hundreds of navigational buoys to mark channels for boat operators, and we have begun steady improvements to our jetties and mooring facilities through the implementation of the 2024 Capital budget,” Oyebamiji said.
Despite these advancements, the NIWA boss called for stronger collaboration with state governments to accelerate the safety measures and infrastructure improvements. He urged states to assist in areas such as jetty construction, training, and provision of standardized boats. “The inland waterways have greater potential to transport passengers and goods than other modes of transportation, at a lower cost and faster. We need state governments to work with us, as they do with other agencies, to ensure this potential is realized,” he added.
Oyebamiji also referenced NIWA’s legal authority to regulate activities on the inland waterways, following a recent Supreme Court ruling, but stressed that cooperation from state governments remains vital for the success of the sector.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders from across the maritime industry, all of whom were invited to share their insights and support the ongoing efforts to improve inland water transportation.
