NIWA MD, Oyebamiji Fetes Maritime Journalists, Charges Them to Promote Safer Waterways Through Media Advocacy

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, has called on maritime journalists to play an active role in promoting waterway safety across Nigeria.

Oyebamiji made the appeal at a media parley held on Friday, October 25, 2024, at Sheraton Hotels, Lagos, where he highlighted the critical role the media plays in supporting NIWA’s mission to ensure safe and secure inland water travel.

He urged journalists to use their platform to raise public awareness on safety issues.
“To me, after God, the next is the government followed by the media,” Oyebamiji remarked.

“Our meeting today, although long overdue, allows me to be closer to a circle of people whose opinions are very important in nation-building.” He expressed his appreciation for the media’s consistent support over the years, acknowledging, “NIWA has never been short of media coverage, however little and unflowery it may seem, we still have you to thank.”

The NIWA MD took the opportunity to discuss his agency’s recent accomplishments, including the implementation of the 2023 Water Transportation Code and the deployment of 15 new boats of various capacities aimed at improving safety and efficiency on Nigeria’s waterways.

“Within one year, NIWA has carried out more grassroots safety campaigns than at any other time within the same period,” he noted.

He also shared the progress of NIWA’s water marshal program, which has expanded significantly in the past year. “It may interest you to know that within three months of its launch, we have increased the number of our water marshals from 80 to 350 personnel,” Oyebamiji stated.

These marshals have been deployed across various loading points in the country to monitor boat operators and passengers, with recent directives to initiate 24-hour surveillance at key locations to prevent night travel and overloading.

Despite these strides, Oyebamiji acknowledged that safety and security challenges still persist, often overshadowing NIWA’s achievements.

“The twin issues of safety and insecurity on the inland waterways always overshadow every gain recorded by NIWA whenever it happens,” he said.

He stressed the critical role of public education, revealing that human error remains the leading cause of accidents, with “poor attitude and blatant disregard for safety protocol” as the primary culprits.

“We therefore call on you to join us in educating our people on the need to be safety conscious always,” he urged journalists.

Reflecting on a recent stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, where transportation leaders from 24 states discussed the pressing need for collaboration, Oyebamiji noted, “The meeting highlighted several important measures that must be taken to arrest the twin issues of safety and insecurity on the inland waterways. Of note is the need to increase the level of awareness and campaign within the sector. Hence this meeting.”

Oyebamiji expressed confidence that a strengthened partnership with the media could drive positive changes. “We urge you, as opinion shapers, to partner with NIWA in its mission to promote safer waterways through media advocacy,” he stated.