Boat Mishaps: NIWA Threatens to Ban Activities of Speed Boats on Lagos Waterways

ABIOLA Seun    |     

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has threatened to ban activities of speed boats also known as ‘flying coffins’ over series of accidents on Lagos waterways.

This was disclosed by the General Manager, Lagos Area Office of NIWA, Engr. Muazu Sambo at a stakeholders meeting with boat users -United Waterways Passengers Association (UWPA) and boat operators under the aegis of Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transportation of Nigeria (NATBOWAT).

Recall that five people died in a boat accident in Lagos Wednesday evening. The incident happened at about 5.57 p.m. when the boat capsized mid-sea enroute Ikorodu from Lagos Island.

It was also gathered that an unclaimed corpse is still lying at the morgue because the identity of the corpse remained unknown.

Sambo, who bemoaned incessant deaths recorded on the Lagos waterways, also lamented lack of standard fibre boats on the Lagos inland waterways said the authority had given operators enough time to standardize their operations which they failed to do.

He said, “As far as I am the Area Manager of Lagos Office, flying coffins won’t operate again. In 2016, we have given them enough time to standardize their operations by giving them opportunities to seek loans but they have refused.

“The only reason why am not banning the flying coffins is because of the consequence on the users but drastic situations call for drastic action and the vacuum created will be filled by private operators waiting for actions on the sub-standard boats.”

On how to stop avoidable deaths on the Lagos Inland waterways, Sambo said, “Beach masters will be in place across jetties in Lagos within the next two weeks. The beach masters will receive uniforms; merchant navy training and they will have a code of conducts. We will let you know who the Beach masters are and contacts of the search and rescue teams. NIWA will also be visiting the jetties at random and seizing substandard life jackets.”

Speaking on issue of educating and the enlightenment of passengers, the GM said they would be trained on enforcing standards on the inland waterways.

“Education and enlightenment is critical and we will address that on the deployment of beach masters and they will be trained that their duties include enforcement of safety standards at the jetties at all time. Also, making sure that boat captains are not reeling of alcohol and quarterly awareness campaigns on safety.”

Sambo also identified wrecks, logs and fishermen as obstacle of safe navigation on the Lagos Inland Waterways.

“We have received ministerial approval to remove wrecks but it is cumbersome and there are processes and it started last year and we got approval last year and we want to use the opportunity of the company to remove a lot of wrecks in the Lagos inland waterways.”

Also speaking, the Chairman of UWPA, Pius Agbude lamented over-loading by boat operators. 

“We should know the actual number of persons that are supposed to be boarded in the boats because we have about 20 persons which is  always over-crowded.”

Agbude who complained about lack of emergency intervention especially first aids equipment at boat mishap scenes raised the alarm over unclaimed corpse at the morgue.

“A corpse is still at the morgue unclaimed because we don’t have the identity of the corpse or how to travel the family.

“We must educate first time users because they are the one falling victims when mishap occurs”, he concluded.

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