NIWA bags award

By Steve Agbota                 

The National inland waterways Authority (NIWA) has been honoured with the maritime agency of the year 2025 award for its outstanding effort in reducing boat Mishaps by 70 per cent.

The award/dinner night 2025 by the New Telegraph newspaper held Lagos recently was received by the Alhaji Umar yusuf Girei, the Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer who dedicated it to the hardworking staff of the Authority and the former Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji.

Addressing the media, the Acting Managing Director expressed his gratitude, stating that the award is a testament of the Authority’s dedication and commitment to improving maritime safety in Nigeria and will spur the staff to do more.

The award is a recognition of NIWA’s efforts to promote safety and security on Nigerian inland waterways, including the implementation of the inland waterways transportation code and the deployment of water Marshals to enforce safety regulations amongst many other achievements in 2025.

In another development, NIWA is set to launch a nationwide campaign to translate the provisions its safety regulations code into local languages, aiming to reduce accidents and improve compliance across Nigeria’s inland waterways.

The translation of the NIWA Safety Code into local languages is expected to significantly enhance awareness and compliance among boat operators in rural and remote areas, contributing to safer inland waterways and supporting NIWA’s goal of zero boat mishaps nationwide.

Speaking at the sidelines of a recent award investiture ceremony of the immediate past Managing Director of NIWA, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, as the “Most Media Friendly Maritime CEO” in Abuja last week, a member of the NIWA Board, Captain Tajudeen Alao emphasized that public education is as important as enforcement.

Alao noted that while the law prescribes penalties for offenders, many boat operators in remote areas remain unaware of the rules due to language barriers. He noted that NIWA plans to collaborate with local governments, unions, and cooperatives to ensure that the Act and safety codes are widely disseminated and understood.

The campaign he said will also include educational programs on the risks of overloading, unsafe boat designs, and neglecting safety equipment.

Alao also stressed the ongoing government campaign to phase out wooden boats in favor of stronger, safer fiber boats. He acknowledged the socio-economic challenges, noting that rural boat owners may not immediately afford fiber vessels, but education and better boat design remain critical steps.

“The law is the law. But you need to educate the people. How many of them in places like Sokoto or Maiduguri are aware of the code of conduct? In how many languages has it been translated? We must reach the grassroots so they understand the consequences of negligence.” Alao said.

Also speaking, the acting Managing Director of NIWA, Umar Yusuf Girei noted that the NIWA Act includes penalties for violations such as overloading, unsafe vessel conditions, and non-use of life jackets.

However, enforcement alone, according to Girei is not enough, noting that the initiative complements NIWA’s enforcement efforts, adding that NIWA has deployed marshals across all waterfronts, extending patrol hours beyond the usual 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. shift to ensure compliance during night operations.

The Acting MD emphasized NIWA’s commitment to achieving a zero-tolerance policy on boat mishaps, noting that the authority aims for an all-year-round reduction in accidents. “We are targeting a year-round, mishap-free water transport system. We seek the federal government’s support to provide the necessary resources and incentives to meet this objective,” Engr. Girei added.

When questioned about enforcement under NIWA Safety Code, he confirmed that culprits involved in boat accidents are apprehended, prosecuted, and appropriately fined. “Most offenders have been charged to court, and penalties have been applied as required,” he said.

Girei also highlighted that the interventions have led to a significant reduction in incidents, with some areas reporting up to a 70 per cent decrease in accidents, marking a positive step towards safer inland waterway transport in Nigeria.