Agency Enforces Safety Measures On Waterways

National Island Waterways Authority, (NIWA) said it will continue to enforce the use of life jackets and other safety measures on the waterways to minimise casualties in boat accidents.

A staff of the agency told LEADERSHIP yesterday at the Pata water side in confidence that there is now substantial compliance in the usage of life jackets on the waterways.

“There is now substantial compliance with the use of life jackets on our waterways compared with what we used to have in the past.

“Our men are in Idah, Ganaja, Pata, and other loading points in the state. We are doing this for their safety, both the passengers and the boat operators.

“The boat mishap in 2024 recorded several casualties because of failure to use life jackets while ignoring the weather, despite repeated warnings against traveling without safety measures,” he said.

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), early last month, introduced a compulsory life jacket requirement for boat passengers, saying “No life jacket, no boarding across riverine communities in Lokoja local government and its environs” to reduce casualties in the event of boat mishaps.

During the exercise, the managing director (MD) of NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji, said enforcement would continue until there was full compliance.

The former area manager, Engr. Titus Adoga  attributed the significant reduction in water mishaps in Lokoja recently to sustained sensitisation and enforcement of water transport regulatory measures across all water fronts, while stating that the agency will not tolerate disregard for water transport regulations, especially the use of life jackets.