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The Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON) has commended the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) for its commitment to improving waterway safety, while urging the Authority to provide more life jackets for operators across the country.
The appeal was made on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the association’s leadership to the NIWA Abuja Area/Liaison Office to congratulate the Acting Managing Director, Alhaji Umar Yusuf Girei, and the Area Manager, Mrs. Aisha Eri, on their recent appointments.
Speaking on behalf of the association, National President, Dr. Gani Tarzan Balogun, praised NIWA’s sustained support for water transport operators, particularly its safety interventions, which he said have yielded positive results in the South-West.
He identified the acute shortage of life jackets as a major challenge confronting boat operators and appealed to the Authority to prioritise the provision of more safety equipment to safeguard passengers and crew.
Balogun also stressed that improving the navigability of Nigeria’s inland waterways would reduce pressure on the nation’s road network by providing a safer and more efficient transport alternative for commuters and cargo movement.
Responding, Acting Managing Director Alhaji Umar Yusuf Girei thanked the delegation for the visit and assured members that NIWA had already begun addressing many of the issues raised, noting that several interventions were already underway.
Also speaking, Abuja Area Manager Mrs. Aisha Eri described the visit as timely and urged ATBOWATON members to deploy their expertise in supporting the development of water transportation in the Federal Capital Territory. She expressed confidence that stronger collaboration between NIWA and operators would further enhance safety and efficiency on the nation’s inland waterways.
