NIWA Introduces Passenger Manifest At Jetties

In apparent reaction to recent accidents on the nation’s waterways,the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has introduced commuters’ manifest at jetties in Lagos.
The Lagos  Area  Manager of the agency; Mr Mu’azu  Sambo , said that the manifest would assist in getting information on commuters in case of mishap.
“We introduced the use of manifest at our jetties following the recent boat mishap at Majidun  in Ikorodu, that was attributed  to overloading.

In apparent reaction to recent accidents on the nation’s waterways,the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has introduced commuters’ manifest at jetties in Lagos.
The Lagos  Area  Manager of the agency; Mr Mu’azu  Sambo , said that the manifest would assist in getting information on commuters in case of mishap.
“We introduced the use of manifest at our jetties following the recent boat mishap at Majidun  in Ikorodu, that was attributed  to overloading.
“The manifest would help in checking overloading, providing names of commuters, point and time of embarking and disembarking, next of kin, as well as their cell phone numbers.
“Such information is necessary in case of any mishap considering the peculiarity of this mode of transportation,” he said.
O his part, Managing Director, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) Mr Olayinka Marinho, said that the authority was making efforts to make boat operators in the state adopt the use of passengers’ manifest.
Some commuters at the C.M.S Ferry jetty also commended the introduction of manifest at the jetties, saying that it would help the authorities identify casualties in the case of any mishap.
One of them, Mrs Amaka Ezeala , a civil servant , said that the use of manifest would also help in checking overloading by commercial boat operators.
“Some greedy boat operators tend to overload their boats when there are many passengers.
 “I use the ferry regularly because I work at Apapa Wharf and live on the Island, I frown at overloading but other commuters see me as a bad person whenever I complain”, Ezeala said.
Another commuter, Mr Titus Morakinyo , a civil servant, also commended the introduction of the manifest, saying it would enable the authorities have information on commuters in case of mishap.