COVID-19 Pandemic: NIWA issues new guidelines for water transportation, jetty operations
*Passengers must board immediately on arrival, use hand sanitizer and wear face-mask
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) Lagos Area Office has issued fresh guidelines for controlled inland waterways transportation as well as jetty operations.
NIWA in a statement signed on Sunday by the Area Manager, Engr. Sarat Braimah, said the new guidelines were in line with the directive of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, to allow a gradual and controlled easing of the lockdown as announced by the President on March 27,
2020.
2020.
The following guidelines, according to NIWA, would take effect from Monday, May 4, 2020:
1. Movement of Boats/Ferries will be between the hours of 6:30am and 5:30pm.
No passenger boat is expected on the waterways after 5:30pm in the evening.
No passenger boat is expected on the waterways after 5:30pm in the evening.
2. The loading capacity of all Boats and Ferries shall be at 60%
capacity until further notice, that is a 20 passenger boat will be reduced to
12 passengers only.
capacity until further notice, that is a 20 passenger boat will be reduced to
12 passengers only.
3. All passengers shall put on a face-mask before embarkment and
throughout the duration of travel.
throughout the duration of travel.
4. Boat operators shall make alcohol based sanitizers available at the
entrance of their boat. The use of sanitizers is mandatory before embarkment
and disembarkment of passengers.
entrance of their boat. The use of sanitizers is mandatory before embarkment
and disembarkment of passengers.
5. Operators are to make available decent lifejackets as we move towards
actualizing optimal hygiene and passengers are urged if necessary to provide
and use their personal Life Jackets.
actualizing optimal hygiene and passengers are urged if necessary to provide
and use their personal Life Jackets.
6. Commercial boat operations shall remain suspended during weekends
till further notice.
till further notice.
7. There will be temperature checks at various jetties and terminals.
8. Jetties/ Terminals are not allowed to accommodate and congregate not
more than 20 passengers at a time, this is in line with the enforcement of social
distancing. Passengers are expected to board immediately on arrival at the
jetties.
more than 20 passengers at a time, this is in line with the enforcement of social
distancing. Passengers are expected to board immediately on arrival at the
jetties.
9. In the event of any suspected case of COVID-19 please call the
Authority or 08000CORONA.
Authority or 08000CORONA.
10. These guidelines are to be strictly adhered to. Please call the Area office emergency numbers placed on the jetties if you find any passenger or operator violating any of the above
guidelines.
guidelines.
11. In order to ameliorate the cost of operations for commercial Boat Operators, the Authority has directed all jetty operators to charge fifty percent of applicable jetty fees while government jetties remains free of charge till further notice.
