By Joshua Yousouph
Following the recent several reoccurrences of boat accidents on Lagos waters, the management of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has extended patrol hours on all waterways to forestall boat mishaps and discourage illegal and night sailing.
Recall that a boat named “R & N 2” conveying 17 passengers suddenly capsized due to a mechanical fault less than 200 meters from the terminal and submerged immediately after it departed the Ipakodo ferry terminal in the Ikorodu area of Lagos state. Two persons were confirmed dead after the incident.
Similarly, a boat enroute Ibeshe from the Mile 2 area of Lagos had an accident after allegedly drifting under a barge leading to the death of 17 persons, including the boat Captain.
Investigations by Shipping Position Daily revealed that the ill-fated boat carried 17 members of the Sumola Aniajogun family of Ibeshe who all died in the mishap on their way home for the Salah celebrations.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily last week after an inspection on the mishap, NIWA Lagos Area Manager, Engr. Sarat Braimah assured that the Marine Task Force Patrol Team will be on the waterways between the hours of 6:00 am and 10:00 pm to deter and sanction boat operators who flout the 6:00 am to 7:00 pm sailing time rule.
Braimah said the Task Force will not only focus on ensuring total compliance to boating rules and guidelines at the Jetties but will also extend their searchlight to the waterways. She however warned all boat operators to desist from night sailing and over-loading. On the part of the passengers, she urged them to always demand for life jackets before leaving the jetties for sailing.
The Area Manager also assured that beyond the jetties and neighbouring towns, a proper sensitization routine will be extended to riverine communities in order to keep them abreast and informed about all safety rules and regulations.
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“We have decided to extend the patrols of our Task Force Team from the Jetties to run between 6:00 am to 10:00 pm on the waterways in order to ensure total compliance to all safety rules and regulations. Anyone found flouting these rules will be severely sanctioned and dealt with.
“Now that we have been able to sensitize and train boat operators within the major areas of Lagos waters, we would also extend our sensitization exercise to the riverine areas and communities where some of these mishaps take place” Braimah noted
On his part, The National President of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), Alhaji Tarzan Balogun told our correspondent that most boat mishaps are caused by the unregulated activities of some barges on the waterways.
Balogun however called on the Lagos state government and other regulators to look into the activities of barge operators to ensure the safety of lives and properties on the waterways.
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