After banning unlicensed boats, NIWA plans to recruit 800 water marshals

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) says plans are underway to enlistee and deploy astir 800 h2o marshals nationwide by December.

The recruitment, according to the Managing Director of NIWA, Mr Bola Oyebamiji, is portion of efforts to fortify information and regularisation connected Nigeria’s waterways.

Oyebamiji, portion addressing newsmen connected Wednesday successful Abuja, said the determination was aimed astatine curbing the incessant vessel mishaps, enforcing the usage of beingness jackets, and monitoring unauthorized loading points.

According to him, portion of the responsibilities of the h2o marshals is to sensitise passengers and operators connected harmless navigation practices.

“The Federal Government is doing a fantastic occupation connected h2o safety. We person each the gadgets to heighten safety.

“We presently person betwixt 350 and 450 h2o marshals, and the extremity is to summation the fig of marshals to guarantee that authorised jetties crossed the state person much than 1 marshal to enforce information rules.

“All the instrumentality and the navigational immunodeficiency we request are provided, and we program to person much constabulary and much marshals to show our waterways due to the fact that determination are not enough.

“We are moving to summation the fig earlier the extremity of the twelvemonth to 800 if we person the accidental to concern it,” helium said.

Oyebamiji stated that determination were astir 4 to 5 monitoring teams, including task forces, deployed crossed each waterways, peculiarly successful riverine areas, to complement the efforts of the h2o marshals.

He urged vessel users to adhere to information rules and instructions fixed by h2o marshals earlier takeoff for their ain information and benefit.

According to him, vessel users indispensable discard h2o extortion superstitious beliefs and adhere to scientifically provided information and extortion rules, particularly the usage of beingness jackets, which summation chances of endurance successful cases of mishaps.”

He called connected the National Assembly to expedite the transition of the Coastal Guard Bill for maritime safety.

Oyebamiji besides emphasized the value of collaboration with riverine authorities governments to amended h2o safety.

Vanguard News

The station After banning unlicensed boats, NIWA plans to enlistee 800 h2o marshals appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.