In a bid to curb boat mishaps and enshrine safety on inland waterways operations, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) embarked on a sensitisation campaign to Gbajibo Mokwa in Niger and Gbajibo Mundi in Kwara on safety protocols.
Mr Akapo Adeboye, Area Manager, Niger-Kwara Area Office of NIWA, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Wednesday.
He said the sensitisation campaign was to promote safety protocols within the navigable inland waterways channels of Jebba Lake Basin and its tributaries.
Adeboye said the campaign, tagged: “No Life Jacket, No Travel” and “No Night Travelling,” was to reduce the risk of accidents and ensure the safety of lives and property within the waterways.
He noted the agency had also distributed life jackets to waterways users in Gbajibo Mundi in Mokwa Local Government of Niger.
According to him, the agency has also repaired the Water Ambulance boat, which was previously grounded.
He stated that in a bid to enhance safety within the waterways, the agency laid buoys on the inland navigable waterways channels of Gbajibo Mokwa to Gbajibo Mundi waterways.
According to him, this initiative is expected to guide waterways users and prevent accidents.
Adeboye emphasised the importance of adhering to safety protocols and regulations, including the use of river marshalls.
He urged waterways users to prioritise their safety and the safety of others by complying with the “no life jacket, no travel” and “no night travelling” directives.
The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has sought collaboration with the marine police and narcotics officials to combat smuggling of ammunition and drugs through waterways.
