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By Ijeoma Obioma
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has mandated boat drivers in Benue State to ensure their passengers must use life jackets onboard water transportation at any crossing points in the state.
Area Manager of NIWA Makurdi Area Office, Engr. Samson Onobun, handed the mandate at the weekend during the inauguration of the Safety Committee for Buruku/Abuku Crossing point on River Katsina-Ala in Benue State.
Onobun who led his team on the sensitisation and enlightenment campaign at the event, noted that the Safety Committee will work with other stakeholders in the water transportation sector to enforce safety regulations as prescribed by the Inland Waterways Transportation Regulations 2023.
He said that the campaign aimed to make water transportation safer and better, stressing the need for everyone boarding a boat to use life jacket as not doing so is criminal.
“We want to make water transportation safer and better for everybody. We thank God that this year, we have no record of loss of lives here yet,” Onobun said while further urging boat operators “to take the safety of passengers seriously so that anybody coming here will know that their life or property is safe.”
The NIWA Makurdi Area Office Manager who introduced the Inland Waterways Transportation Regulations 2023, to the marine union in the area explained that it remains an offence to sail in Nigeria’s inland Waterways outside the law.
He added, “Not using life jacket, night sailing are all criminalise under the law. The law also empowers Marine Police to carry out their duties more effectively.
He also advised the boat operators to always maintain their boats, charging the people to ensure that no one crosses without using life jackets.
“There is a decision we have to make and let’s make it today. If we say without life jacket, you cannot enter boat, people will wear it,” he posited.
Onobun however hinted that NIWA will soon commence training of boat operators in the area.
Also speaking at the event, ASP Patrick Akubueze, the Second in Command, Marine Police in Benue Command on behalf of his boss and Safety Noah Daniel, Head Marine, took turns to give safety tips.
They all emphasised maintaining the standard condition of boats, and possession of important tools such as paddle, hand bailer, use of life jacket, avoid hard starting of engine, and to avoid night sailing.
Samuel Nakombu, who spoke on behalf of the Chairman of Tombo Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, commended NIWA for taking the “Safety on our Inland Waterways” to Buruku.
He said the union, in collaboration with the Safety Committee inaugurated by NIWA would continue to speak with boat operators and passengers and gradually, the regulations will be enforced.
On his part,, the District Head of Binev, Tyoor Dennis Nyitse, said the people will gradually adopt to the water transportation regulations.
Nyitse therefore, appealed to NIWA to be slow in implementing the regulations, as he applauded the event which was attended by traditional rulers, community leaders and many boat operators at the Abuku harbour.
