The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has commended the efforts of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, and the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji, for their significant contributions toward ensuring safety on Nigeria’s waterways.
Speaking during a press conference in Lokoja, Kogi State, the National Secretary-General of NAPS, Comrade Agada Noah, praised the adoption and implementation of the Nigeria Water Transportation Code, a long-awaited document that aims to improve safety across the nation’s waterways. He also highlighted the steps NIWA has taken to enhance safety, including fortifying waterways surveillance, enforcing safety regulations, and responding swiftly to security threats.
Noah noted that NIWA had trained over 300 boat operators, distributed thousands of life jackets, recruited more than 500 water marshals, and translated safety campaign materials into over 40 languages for riverine communities. He emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of preventable boating accidents, urging stakeholders to enforce stricter regulations, ensure the regular maintenance of vessels, and impose penalties for non-compliance with safety standards.
The association also made several demands to the federal government, including the expedited phasing out of wooden boats in favor of modern fiber boats, increased budgetary allocations to NIWA, and the full enforcement of the Water Transportation Code. They further called on National Assembly members from riverine areas to collaborate with water transporters and focus on providing modern facilities and effective campaigns to reduce accidents.
In his remarks, the NIWA Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, acknowledged NAPS’ engagement and expressed appreciation for their proactive approach to advocating for safer waterways. He shared that 99% of boat mishaps are caused by human error and emphasized the importance of boat operators and passengers adhering to safety protocols. He also outlined several of NIWA’s achievements, including nationwide safety campaigns, the distribution of free life jackets, the deployment of more water marshals, the creation of seven Search and Rescue Units, and ongoing efforts to procure fiber boats.
The event also featured presentations from key NIWA officials, including Dr. Wale Tijani, Technical Adviser to the MD, and Engr. Dakio Horsfall, General Manager (Marine), as well as contributions from other NIWA leadership members. The meeting underscored the collaboration between NIWA, NAPS, and other stakeholders to reduce the number of boat accidents and enhance the safety of Nigeria’s waterways.
The students reaffirmed their commitment to advocating for the safety and well-being of Nigerians, urging relevant authorities to take proactive measures to prevent future tragedies. The loss of even one life, they stated, is unacceptable and must serve as a turning point in efforts to ensure that no Nigerian dies unnecessarily due to preventable factors.
