NIWA Intensifies Safety Enforcement on Lagos Waterways Ahead of Ember Months
…Warns boat operators against non-compliance, introduces quarterly inspections
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has announced plans to intensify safety enforcement on Lagos waterways during the ember months, warning boat operators to comply strictly with operational regulations to prevent accidents and protect passengers.
The Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Engr. Sarat Braimah, represented by the Head of Marine Department, Engr. Elsie Egwatu, gave the warning during a safety sensitisation programme for boat operators at Liverpool Jetty, Lagos.
Egwatu said the exercise was designed to reinforce operators’ knowledge of safety regulations, noting that human error remained a major cause of accidents on inland waterways.
She emphasised the need for continuous sensitisation of boat operators and passengers, adding that strict compliance with established safety guidelines would help reduce accidents and improve operational safety.
According to her, NIWA is strengthening its monitoring and inspection activities, particularly for smaller boats that are more vulnerable to wear and tear from frequent operations.
“We have doubled our efforts. We conduct quarterly inspections for boats like these because we have noticed that wear and tear on the waterways have more impact on smaller boats,” she said.
Egwatu explained that the quarterly inspections were intended to complement the authority’s annual registration and inspection requirements, ensuring that boats remained fit for operations throughout the year.
She warned that NIWA would impound boats whose operators failed to comply with registration and inspection requirements, stressing that enforcement would be intensified to ensure adherence to safety standards.
The NIWA official disclosed that the authority had conducted sensitisation campaigns at several jetties across Lagos, including Sabokoji, Ikorodu, Makoko and Ibeche, with further engagements planned for Siemens Jetty.
She maintained that safety enforcement was a continuous process, adding that NIWA would sustain stakeholder engagement while taking appropriate action against operators who violated established regulations.
On the training and licensing of boat operators, Egwatu said operators were required to undergo training at a cost of ₦95,000 as a one-time payment.
She explained that operators who completed the initial training would subsequently pay ₦16,500 for a licence valid for three years before renewal.
According to her, the authority had given operators sufficient time to prepare for the training requirements but would now adopt a stricter approach to enforcing compliance.
Beyond operational safety, Egwatu urged boat operators and passengers to maintain environmental cleanliness by avoiding the disposal of sachet water wrappers and other waste into the waterways.
She acknowledged concerns over the lack of waste bins at Liverpool Jetty, disclosing that an initiative was underway to provide waste bins at the facility and other locations across Lagos.
She said the initiative would complement ongoing public awareness campaigns on proper waste disposal and environmental protection.
While acknowledging the challenges involved in securing compliance from operators and passengers, Egwatu said NIWA would continue to combine public enlightenment with regulatory enforcement, stressing that sustained monitoring was essential to ensuring adherence to safety regulations.
She also urged stakeholders to support the authority by reporting unsafe practices and other violations on the waterways.
“We encourage every stakeholder on the waterways: if you see something, say something. Keep informing us. We share information so that we can all collaborate and make these waterways safer and more seamless,” she said.
The campaign forms part of NIWA’s efforts to strengthen safety awareness and regulatory compliance across Lagos waterways during the ember months, a period when increased vigilance is essential to safeguarding lives and property.
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