By Steve Agbota
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, has said that safety on Nigerian waterways remains non-negotiable, as the agency put measures in place to curb boat accidents in the inland waterways across the country.
This is part of efforts to sanitize the system, ensure overall security and safety, and continuously guarantee adequate protection of lives and property on Nigeria’s inland waterways.
However, Oyebamiji reassured the public that no stone would be left unturned in championing the constitutional obligations of the Authority and achieving its mandate under the umbrella of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
NIWA is irrevocably committed to nipping in the bud the scourge of boat mishaps caused by noncompliance with safety standards by reckless boat operators and defaulters.
Oyebamiji, who is currently in London to attend the 46th International Maritime Organization Consultative Conference of Contracting Parties in the United Kingdom, mentioned that insights from the ongoing conference would further help improve and develop Nigeria’s inland waterways for navigation as part of the Authority’s cardinal objectives.
The NIWA boss joined other stakeholders, intellectuals, and experts in the maritime sector from around the globe to discuss topical issues related to Marine Geo-Engineering, Marine Litter and Microplastics, and CO2 Sequestration, with the aim of decisively tackling critical ocean challenges worldwide.
He said by implementing the London Protocol, Nigeria can significantly advance its inland waterways sector, aligning it with sustainable international practices, protecting marine ecosystems, and strengthening socio-economic benefits.
The Protocol, which has serious implications for the Nigerian maritime sector, focuses on issues relating to inland waterways, as it shapes environmental practices, safety, and sustainability.
Some of the issues being deliberated include environmental protection, strengthened waste management practices, international compliance and standards, capacity building and training, enhanced monitoring and enforcement, support for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and health and livelihood support.