Ember months: NIWA takes safety campaign to operators, passengers.

Segun Oladipupo |

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) said it had embarked on safety and awareness campaigns on waterways in Lagos to ensure accident free ember months.

The campaign is also targeted at sensitising passengers on compliance with the regulations of the movement of persons and goods on waterways.

Flagging off the campaign, Engineer Sarat Lara Braimah, Area Manager, Lagos, who led the safety mission told passengers and operators to make use of life jackets and avoid situations that may put boats at risk.

The Lagos Area Manager while explaining the importance of life jacket on waterways, instructed boat operators not to board any intending water transportation user who failed or refused to wear life jackets.

Her words, “This campaign operation is targeted at zero tolerance for unbecoming attitudes inimical to safety issues on Lagos waters and everyone who may wish to use the Waterways must embrace it. Life is important and NIWA in Lagos would not stand by and watch stakeholders take to flagrant disobedience to safety matters. She explained.”

She noted that the campaign would cover Ikorodu, Badore, Epe, Liverpool, Badagry and Ajegunle waterfront jetties, all in Lagos throughout the festive season not excluding January 2020 and would be reviewed to stem any unwholesome activities and presence among users of water transportation in Lagos.

“This campaign will roll out in phases and we intend to also introduce patrol strategies as a backup to this one- to- one reach out. We expect feedback from the stakeholders on any potential challenge that may create anxieties particularly to smooth operation of boat services and any life threatening practices among boat operators.” Engineer sarat Braimah added.

“Apart from distribution of pamphlets and flyers detailing key safety watch list to passengers and operators, NIWA would also impound boats and life jackets which do not meet with certain operational specifications.

She added that the Lagos area office is also targeting students and pupils from reverine communities for a special “must use” compliance of life jackets as part of the ember months campaign and a new safety measures to encourage use of water transportation in Lagos.