INCESSANT BOAT MISHAP IN OUR WATERWAYS AND THE CHALLENGES OF A REGULATING SYSTEM

NIWA is the Agency responsible for monitoring standards and evaluation along the nation’s inland water ways.

The mandate also includes providing regulatory, economic and operational leadership in the inland water ways system and develop infrastructural facilities for efficient inter modal systems that is safe secured and affordable.

In consonance with this reality, any agency that refused to see reality will certainly attract destruction. Realising the frailty of regulations are process in West as Central Africa, the Maritime Organisation of West Africa and Central Africa has revealed that inland water ways are a vital and yet underutilised asset for economic development in West Africa and Central Africa. With 10,000 navigable route in Nigeria, NIWA should have appreciated the relationship between waterways and national development.

They should have been alarmed by the study by the World Maritime University that put the number of fatalities in inland water ways in sub saharan Africa at a staggering 8,072 between 2001 and 2021.
That is why NIWA need to realise that the high volume of inland water way traffic is a testament to it’s critical role in West Africa and Central Africa where there are large challenges of road infrastructure.

In such environment where there is diminishing investment in road networks, inland water ways travel remains the most effective and environmentally friendly mode of transportation particularly for a region with limited road infrastructure.

A 2020 study showed that 3000 people used the Ikorodu to Ebute Ero route on daily basis. That should have substantially increased with Lagos State involvement in inland water ways transportation.

A very disturbing trend in the frequency of mishaps is NIWA is the less than encouraging safety and security enforcement on the waterways rules, procedures and regulations.

In the light of frequent mishaps, NIWA must take campaigns to the local communities and encourage regular maintenance and dredging of the waterways.

Additionally, NIWA need to acquire state of the art crafts and set the necessary standards with such crafts in line with international standards and best practices.

AVM (RTD) AKUGBE IYAMU
CONSULTANT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ANALYST OF THE ENVIRONMENT

PRESIDENT ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE PRACTITIONERS