NIWA tasks boat operators, passengers on adherence to safety rules during rainy season

Credit: NAN

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has tasked boat operators, passengers and other users on the need to adhere strictly to safety rules ahead of the rainy season to prevent mishaps.

NIWA Corporate Affairs Manager, Mrs Helen Ekere, in a media interaction on Tuesday in Abuja,  said that plans were underway to sensitise stakeholders across the country on the importance of adherence to safety rules and regulations.

According to her, NIWA is preparing for the rainy season; last year the safety code on waterways was brought forward followed by massive sensitisation.

”This year as the rainy season is approaching plans are underway to intensify sensitisations on adherence to safety rules.

”This is especially rules on crossing points, use of live jackets and empowerment of safety marshals along the banks to enforce safety.

”All hands must be on deck to ensure that there are no mishaps.”

She urged safety marshals to ensure early arrivals at water banks to enforce strict adherence to safety measures by boats operators and users before take-offs.

Ekere also advise the safety marshals against compromising safe water transportation standards, especially on the use of live jackets.

”Without live jackets boat operators and users should not be allowed to move.

”It is compulsory for all boat users to be well kitted with live jackets before boating, it is the safety standard, and marshals are to ensure that this is adhered to.

“It is also the responsibility of the safety marshals to rescue victims of mishaps, so the importance of their presence at water banks and their empowerment to carry out their functions cannot be over emphasized,” she stressed.

The NIWA corporate affairs manager noted that the authority would ensure its continuous free distributions of live jackets during its sensitisations, especially to flood prone areas.