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| NIWA Jetty at Marina, Lagos |
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA),
says it has maintained an increased level of patrols on the waterways and on
land, to ensure strict compliance with safety and security measures.
says it has maintained an increased level of patrols on the waterways and on
land, to ensure strict compliance with safety and security measures.
Mr Mu’Azu Sambo, the Lagos Area Manager of NIWA disclosed this on Wednesday in an
interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Sambo said that NIWA had sustained the strategy to emphasise its commitment in
spite of the cost implication involved in the assignment.
He added that the authority had continued with the task to guard against unsafe
dredging activities.
“We carry out regular patrols both by land and by water. Those boats are used
for patrol purposes.
“We also have operational Hilux vehicles, which
we go on land with.
we go on land with.
“We have a Police Command; the National Inland
Waterways Authority (NIWA) Police Command, even in every area office.
Waterways Authority (NIWA) Police Command, even in every area office.
“So, we go on joint patrols; NIWA staff and our
Police, that is the way we make sure that the laws are complied with.
Police, that is the way we make sure that the laws are complied with.
“Patrolling in order to make sure that safety
standards and other environmental issues are complied with require a lot of
patrol.
standards and other environmental issues are complied with require a lot of
patrol.
“We talked about insanity in dredging
activities; it requires a lot of patrolling to bring sanity.
activities; it requires a lot of patrolling to bring sanity.
“All these are money-based activities and if we
don’t have enough of them, it affects our ability to function effectively, not
to talk of financial requirements for new infrastructure.”
don’t have enough of them, it affects our ability to function effectively, not
to talk of financial requirements for new infrastructure.”
He, however, urged the general public to be good citizens and to comply with
the laid down laws in order to make NIWA’s job easier.
NAN reports that NIWA’s regulations required
dredgers to be at least 500m from each other in their areas of operation.
dredgers to be at least 500m from each other in their areas of operation.
