KOREDE FOGO
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) yesterday said it will leave no stoned unturned in the quest to end boat mishap on the nation’s Inland waterways especially Lagos waters.
Speaking after inspecting navigational buoys facilitated by NIWA on Lagos inland waterways from Marina to Ikorodu, with an ongoing phase two from Marina, navigating iworo to Badagry, the managing director, NIWA Dr George Moghalu noted that the Lagos template was geared towards activating a national water transportation safety architecture.
He stated further that the buoys will further help in emergency rescue operations and provide distressed boats an anchor before help arrives, thus eliminating incidences of crafts drifting on mid waters.
Moghalu who said NIWA will leave no stoned unturned in the quest to ensure accident free water transportation in the country further informed that safety on waterways will be pursued with vigor under his watch as a process to engender confidence among water transportation operators and users, and also to attract local and foreign investment.
Moghalu who was accompanied by Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Engineer Sarat Braimah and President, Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATTBOWATON), Ganiyu Balogun, assured stakeholders that NIWA will not fail in its responsibilities to enthrone accident free water transportation signature across littoral states in Nigeria.
However, the President of ATTBOWATON applauded the NIWA initiative, saying the NIWA boss will definitely make water transportation safe and attractive for all end users.
” At the last stakeholders meeting last year in Lagos, Dr Moghalu promised to ensure a navigable Lagos waterways through provision of buoys which would not only serve as an anchor point for distressed boat operators but will help provide access and geographical location to rescue efforts and today, we have seen that promised fulfilled and we say more grease to his elbows,” Balogun stated.