The National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, has banned all unauthorised boat loading points across the country.
The authority also called for the passage of the Coastal Guards Bill to enhance water safety and curb boat mishaps.
Mr Bola Oyebamiji, the Managing Director of NIWA, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja, at a news conference to address concerns surrounding boat mishaps.
Oyebamiji said that no commercial passenger boat shall be allowed to load from any point other than those recognised and registered by NIWA.
“It is mandatory for all commercial boat operators to provide and enforce the use of life jackets on the boats always.
“Every commercial passenger boat must properly display its Boat Name Letters and Load line, and all unlicensed boats and watercrafts are to be removed from the waterways,” he said.
Oyebamiji said that all unlicensed boat drivers and operators were banned from operating any boats or watercraft on waterways.
He reiterated NIWA’s commitment to safe waterways, especially through its continous removal of aquatic waste, logs, wrecks and other impediments from waterways that could hinder safe navigation.
He said that NIWA had increased the number of its water marshals from 80 personnel to 350 personnel
According to him, this is to ensure that safety tips are given to passengers before departure and to reinforce strict enforcement of the “No Life Jacket, No Boarding” regulations.
Oyebamiji said that passenger manifests had also been deployed to its area offices across the country to record passenger information at the recognised jetties and loading points for administrative purposes.
The NIWA boss said that the authority had installed marine navigational buoys and conducted hydrographic survey, as well as intensified training of boat operators.
