…to charge boat operator and driver to court
The National Inland
Waterways Authority (NIWA) has impounded a private passenger boat that was
transporting school children going for a schools event from Takwa Bay to Osborne
without having life-jackets on.
Waterways Authority (NIWA) has impounded a private passenger boat that was
transporting school children going for a schools event from Takwa Bay to Osborne
without having life-jackets on.
NIWA made known in a
statement by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Tayo Fadile, that
while on its routine inspection on March 28th, 2019, it discovered the boat carrying students of Government Secondary
School being exposed to such risk on the Lagos lagoon.
statement by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Tayo Fadile, that
while on its routine inspection on March 28th, 2019, it discovered the boat carrying students of Government Secondary
School being exposed to such risk on the Lagos lagoon.
Describing the route as one
of the busiest, NIWA said the students ought to have been given a standard
approved life-jacket each as a standard safety practice.
of the busiest, NIWA said the students ought to have been given a standard
approved life-jacket each as a standard safety practice.
It said: “A standard approved life jacket is an essential requirement for water
transportation and its use is mandatory, for it is the only tool that helps to ensure
the survival of lives in the unfortunate event of a mishap.
transportation and its use is mandatory, for it is the only tool that helps to ensure
the survival of lives in the unfortunate event of a mishap.
“What is more, nobody can rule out the possibility of a mishap occurring
on any trip at any given time, as a result of several factors that may be
beyond human control.
on any trip at any given time, as a result of several factors that may be
beyond human control.
The National Inland
Waterways Authority places a very high premium on the safety of lives on water.”
Waterways Authority places a very high premium on the safety of lives on water.”
The Authority said it would continue in its efforts to
monitor activities on the Island waterways with routine and control inspections,
and would not hesitate to seek maximum lawful penalties against violators of
safety measures.
monitor activities on the Island waterways with routine and control inspections,
and would not hesitate to seek maximum lawful penalties against violators of
safety measures.
It promised to charge the
operator and driver of the impounded boat to Court under extant laws, in order to serve as deterrent to other
operators in the industry.
operator and driver of the impounded boat to Court under extant laws, in order to serve as deterrent to other
operators in the industry.
It bemoaned the fact that
many lives had been lost from boat mishaps, and the need for more conscious effort to prevent further loss of lives on the waterways.
many lives had been lost from boat mishaps, and the need for more conscious effort to prevent further loss of lives on the waterways.
NIWA solicited the support of all Nigerians, and particularly that of stakeholders in the
water transportation sub-sector and the media in its waterways safety campaign.
water transportation sub-sector and the media in its waterways safety campaign.
