Concerned with safety in the operation of boats, the federal government has donated 3500 life-jackets to Ogun State Government for waterways operators in the state.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, represented by Director of Maritime Services, Dr. Mercy Ilori, handed over the life-jackets, assuring Nigerian inland waterways users that the ministry will stop at nothing to curb the needless loss of lives on the waterways.
The campaign is part of a deliberate national strategy to embed a culture of safety on Nigeria’s inland waterways. Oyetola stressed that the government’s commitment to end the needless loss of lives on waterways is anchored on three pillars: strict enforcement of regulations, public education, and provision of critical safety equipment.
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, represented by the State Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, assured that the life jackets will be distributed equitably to registered operators across the state. He emphasised that safety on the nation’s waterways is not a privilege but a right of everyone in Ogun State.
The Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, highlighted the importance of safety on inland waterways, citing several tragic incidents that claimed lives in hundreds. He noted that over 90 per cent of accidents on waterways are caused by human error, often due to captain’s negligence.
The National President of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), Alhaji Tarzan Balogun, called for intensified regulatory efforts to prioritise safety and infrastructural development on Nigerian waterways. He commended the government for its efforts in promoting safety and assured that the life jackets would be used judiciously.