To ensure safety and regulation on Lagos inland waterways, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has revealed plans to conduct quarterly inspections of Boat operators to ensure only qualified and well-maintained boats are permitted to operate in the state.
Speaking at a safety sensitization program held for boat captains and deck hands at the NIWA Lagos Area Office over the weekend, NIWA Managing Director, Hon Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji who was represented by the Manager, Lagos Area Office, Engr Sarat Braimah, noted that NIWA strategically zoned patrols cover Ikorodu, Epe, and Badagry. According to her, this initiative in collaboration with the Marine Police and Joint Task Force is aimed at curbing unsafe practices.
Braimah informed that the Authority has deployed five boats for routine patrol along the Lagos inland waterways. She stressed that enforcement has begun at Ikorodu adding that the enforcement efforts extend to the installation of speedometers on boats to curb overspeeding.
The Lagos Area Manager stressed the significance of proper training and licensing for all boat captains advocating for cooperative efforts among boating associations to actively enrol for the training to enhance safety awareness. She emphasized that training would have exposed the boat captains to know when and how to move to the shore or the implications of boats competing for speed especially in a marine environment fraught with uncertainties.
Highlighting the potential dangers associated with night sailing in Lagos, Braimah urged boat captains to prioritize safety and refrain from navigating during nighttime hours. She emphasized the necessity for boat captains and drivers to promptly report incidents such as wrecks, dredgers, and pipes to NIWA. Dedicated phone numbers were distributed for this purpose, fostering a collaborative approach to maintaining the integrity and safety of Nigeria’s inland waterways.
However, among their complaints, the boat drivers complained of meagre payments that cannot sustain them. They requested NIWA to reduce the fees for training to enable them to afford it. They also solicited for the possibility of government loans to boat operators from the Cabotage Vessels Financing Fund (CVFF) to support operators in acquiring new boats, with structured repayment plans.
Reacting, Engr Braimah encouraged them to imbibe the habit of saving to raise the money, realizing the implications of not getting trained on their job. She suggested that splitting the sum into 30 – 30% initial instalment payment and completing it before collecting the certificate gives a trainee a soft landing.
“Actually, I can say that 80% of night sailing is not in Lagos. We have told them why they should let us have information whenever they see any wrecks on the waterways so that these can be removed immediately. Some of these wrecks are caused by dredgers. We know all dredgers on the inland waterways. We will call to tell them what to do with the wrecks.
“Before now, all Ikorodu boats have been inspected. The ones qualified for now are allowed to sail; those not qualified will not be allowed until they are refurbished. We are working with the Marine Police.”
“I believe in training because there’s nothing you can learn or do even in the corridor of your house without experience acquired through training. How do you not have a licence and you want to drive a boat? It’s like being a doctor without going to school. Training is key; that’s what I have been telling the associations that it is better we work together and help ourselves. They can’t be saying that N80,000 is too big for training. It’s not like they’re doing this training every year. It’s for three years. This money is paid once every three years” Braimah noted.
In his submission earlier, Emmanuel Prowess, a trainer and Licensed LifeGuard took time to dwell on the importance of the proper usage of life jackets urging boat captains to always check and wear their life jackets while on water.
Concerning the boat inspection survey, the trainer noted that it is mandatory for Captains to inspect and ascertain the readiness of boat engines before navigation. Driving at a cautious speed, he said, enables the boat to overcome waves and other natural occurrences. He also stressed that passenger loading must not exceed the specific number approved for the boat.
Emmanuel Prowess explained that captains must be conversant with the geography of their areas of operation so as not to infringe on the rights of fishermen and others that maritime laws permit to ply their trade on water. He counselled that when approaching a jetty boat captains must not allow passengers disembark immediately until he secures and anchors the vessel.
