Waterways: Boat Operators Say New Guidelines Challenging

Some boat operators in Lagos on Wednesday reacted to the new guidelines set for their operations on waterways, saying some aspects were challenging.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) had on Tuesday presented the new guidelines to the operators in Lagos.
The guidelines, among other things, stipulate that the operators must build boats measuring 7.3m in length and 2.2m in width to convey only 30 passengers.
Mr Jamiu Aiyeola, a representative of Steven Duke Nigeria Ltd., told newsmen that the measurement could only accommodate 20 passengers conveniently.
“We already have our boats constructed as expected; they are too small to convey 30 passengers with the new guidelines.
“Presently, our boats can only carry 20 passengers against the stipulated guidelines,’’ Aiyeola said.
Mr Akeem Balogun, the Managing Director, Akimarine Enterprises said that the specification was not commercially viable, and would push them out of business.
“I have been in this business for about 30 years; it has not been easy to run boat business and it is too expensive.
“If this problem becomes much, I will abandon this work. Why has it been difficult for the government to buy more boats and operate them?
“Government should encourage us instead of pushing us out of business,” Balogun said.
Alhaji Rasheed Oloko, the Chief Executive Officer of Rasco Marine, said that the items in the guidelines should have included life jackets and 100 metres anchor and rope.
He said that the items were more important than the items listed in the guidelines such as fire extinguisher, paddle, lifebuoys and shore to sea communication gadgets, among others.
Oloko noted that the anchor and rope would be used to rescue capsized boats and save the lives of passengers during mishap.
Mr Ganiyu Balogun, the President, Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria, said that the 60-day ultimatum given to operators to comply with some aspects of the guidelines was rather short.
He said that the guideline which mandated them to fix appropriate navigational aids in commercial boats, most especially the echo sounder system, could not be achieved within the period.
Balogun said that the echo sounder system was very expensive and could not be purchased in the country.
He said that each boat operator would spend about N3 million to equip a boat in order to comply with the guidelines released by LASWA and NIWA.
“These materials are very expensive and cannot be seen in the country. We cannot comply immediately,” he said.
Mrs Shade Shittu, a member of the United Waterways Association, however, commended NIWA and LASWA for the guidelines, saying they would make boat operators to become more safety conscious.
She urged the state government to assist boat operators with life jackets, as a way of encouraging them.
Alhaji Mu’azu Sambo, the Area Manager National Inland Waterways Authority, had told some operators who raised complaints on Tuesday that the guidelines would be reviewed later.