Boat mishaps: Human errors, drugs responsible, says NIWA MD

Agency Report

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Office of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) Mr. Bola Oyebanji has said that 99 percent of the mishaps on the waterways were a result of human errors and drugs.

He noted that research has shown that the operators are committing avoidable mistakes which could not have cause havoc adding that human errors, drugs and disobedience to the rules and regulations are the major causes of boat mishaps that has occurred in past three years.

Oyebanji who disclosed this while addressing members of House Representatives Committee on NIWA who were on oversight function to the Headquarters of the Authority in Lokoja on Wednesday, stated that the NIWA was committed to the safety of the Nigerians using water transportation.

He stated that some of the operators lived on drugs to influence their activities to make them high and eventually make unpardonable mistakes.

Oyabanji added that some operators are repugnant to following rules and regulations, stressing that imagine the wooden boats taking over 150 to 200 passengers instead of limited ones.

He lamented that the transportation code requires revalidation because the operators have not been strictly followed the code that recent signed recently, while some and are not providing required life jackets for their passengers

He stated the Regulation code only provided N30,000 as penalty for the offenders.

The Chairman of the House Committee on NIWA, Mr. Ojema Ojotu who lead other seven members to Lokoja explained that the inland waterways are an integral part of Nigeria’s transportation framework, offering immense potential for enhancing connectivity, reducing road congestion, and stimulating economic growth.

“As representatives of the people, it is our duty to ensure that this potential is harnessed effectively for the benefit of all Nigerians.

“This visit provides us with the platform to scrutinize ‘critical areas such as operational efficiency, safety on our waterways, infrastructure development, and the overall management of resources allocated to NIWA.

“We recognize the unique challenges associated with managing waterways, including the recurring issues of boat mishaps, flooding in vulnerable regions along the waterways, and the demand for modernized infrastructure such as inland ports and navigable channels. As we deliberate today, it is imperative to consider how these challenges can be addressed to enhance safety, efficiency, and economic viability.