The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) is planning to replace outdated wooden commercial boats operating on the nation’s waterways with fiber-operated vessels to enhance passenger safety.
Bola Oyebamiji, NIWA’s Managing Director and Chief Executive, made this announcement yesterday in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, during a press briefing at the agency’s annual management retreat.
The retreat brought together area managers, deputy managers, union leaders, and senior security officials.
Oyebamiji stated, “Our primary goal is to ensure the safety of passengers on our inland waterways. We aim to eliminate boat accidents. Our focus is not on penalties but on minimizing incidents as much as possible.
“We are transitioning from outdated commercial boats operating on our inland waterways to fiber-operated vessels. This change is set to take place between the first and second quarters. Additionally, we will be conducting more advocacy visits to riverine communities to educate residents and stakeholders about the safety of water travel.
“We are also enhancing training programs for our divers to ensure that our passengers receive the best possible care.”
The NIWA leader assured attendees that the agency would allocate resources as needed to motivate its staff to perform at their best.
He expressed optimism that the strategies being implemented by management this year would lead to increased revenue across NIWA’s offices nationwide.
