NIWA, NSIB Strengthen Partnership To Improve Safety On Inland Waterways
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) have pledged to strengthen collaboration aimed at reducing boat accidents and improving safety on Nigeria’s inland waterways.
The commitment was made on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the NSIB management to NIWA headquarters in Lokoja, where both agencies agreed to work together on strategies to address the increasing incidence of boat mishaps across the country.
Speaking during the meeting, the Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NIWA, Umar Yusuf Girei, reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to ensuring safe navigation through stronger regulations, stakeholder engagement and sustained public sensitisation.
Girei said many of the boat accidents recorded on Nigeria’s waterways were caused by human factors, including negligence, overloading and failure to comply with safety regulations.
He said NIWA had intensified public awareness campaigns to educate boat operators and passengers on safety measures, particularly the compulsory use of life jackets.
“We are working tirelessly to ensure safe navigation on our waterways. Most of the mishaps we experience are caused by human errors, which is why we are aggressively sensitising the public,” he said.
The NIWA boss also warned against overloading boats and travelling at night, urging water transport users to comply with safety regulations to prevent avoidable loss of lives.
According to him, the authority is strengthening enforcement of its transportation code, adding that violators of safety regulations would face sanctions.
“The regulatory framework is already in place and harmonised. We are now moving into full enforcement to curb the menace on our waterways,” Girei said.
He added that NIWA would continue to engage relevant stakeholders to promote compliance and shared responsibility in ensuring safer waterways.
On his part, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., expressed concern over the growing number of fatalities resulting from boat accidents across the country.
Badeh said the visit was aimed at exploring areas of collaboration with NIWA to improve navigation safety and significantly reduce boat mishaps.
He stressed the need for sustained public enlightenment and advocacy on safety regulations, while calling for stricter compliance by waterway users.
The NSIB chief disclosed that the bureau would support NIWA through capacity building, technical assistance and training for its personnel to strengthen regulatory enforcement.
He also said the bureau would advocate increased funding for waterway safety initiatives, noting that effective enforcement and public awareness campaigns require significant financial resources.
Badeh identified the consistent use of life jackets and the avoidance of night travel as critical measures for reducing fatalities during water transport operations.
He expressed optimism that the partnership between both agencies would improve safety standards, reduce accidents and save more lives on Nigeria’s inland waterways.
