Following directives given to both commuters and operators by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), last week in Lagos that transport operation on inland waters will henceforth be from 6am to 6pm, the Association of Transport Boat Operators and Water Transportation of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), has faulted the agency's decision, saying that majority of the passengers live in smaller islands off the inland waters of the state.
The body however advised the agency to put in place security guards to monitor night navigation for safety purposes.
Following directives given to both commuters and operators by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), last week in Lagos that transport operation on inland waters will henceforth be from 6am to 6pm, the Association of Transport Boat Operators and Water Transportation of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), has faulted the agency's decision, saying that majority of the passengers live in smaller islands off the inland waters of the state.
The body however advised the agency to put in place security guards to monitor night navigation for safety purposes.
Justifying the association’s position, President of the association, Mr. Ganiyu Balogun while speaking with journalists last week, said "we live on the other side of the water and there is no means of transportation for them without boats, so that means for those of them who do not close from work by 6.00pm will suffer".
He called on relevant authorities to rather provide lights for easy navigation at night, stressing that night navigation by the operators and passengers cannot be eradicated.
He said that with navigational lights within the waters will reduce mishaps at night for operators and commuters, adding that marking of the waters will aid safe night navigation.
Balogun also appealed to the government to provide the marine police with patrol boats for effective and constant policing of the waters.
"We are calling on government to put in marine police to monitor the activities of the operators; they should ensure that the operators do not speed mostly at night.
Balogun also added that the Lagos waters are safe and free from sea robbers and pirates, adding that there is constant policing of the inland waters by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
He said most of the accidents that had occurred recently can be attributed to abandoned wrecks on the Lagos waters even as he disclosed that NIMASA has risen to the occasion to remove such wrecks.
The ATBOWATON boss also lauded NIMASA for its zeal toward ensuring that the waters are safe from wrecks and even insecurity noting that the maritime agency has appealed to them to report any wrecks found on the Lagos channels.
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