by Ononye VC
Kwara Boat Accident As An Indictment On Nigerian Maritime Authorities
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA)is belatedly scampering into action to investigate the horrifying and pathetic boat accident at Egbu village in Patigi local Government Area of Kwara state where over 103 persons including children and women perished recently.
When certain grevious issues like the boat disaster happens,it exposes the laxity of authorities who were supposed to put preventive measures in place to forestall such occurrences.
Report says that the National Inland Waterways and it’s Director General,Mr George Muoghalu went on assessment tour to the incident scene to find out the cause of the unfortunate accident and put plans in place to stem future recurrence.
Of what purpose and impact have such visit by Mr Muoghalu and his co travellers made when precious souls have been lost unnecessarily.
The grouse of citizens with the maritime authorities particularly the National Inland Waterways is not being able or showing capacity to control, monitor and generally regulate movement of boats on Nigerian local waterways.
It is common place seeing inhabitants of riverine areas and passengers riding boats without life jackets against safety regulations which of course,is hardly enforced.
Children and women who are mostly vulnerable and unable to escape boat mishaps are commonly seen exposed to those dangers.
The Marine Police units and operatives of both federal and state inland water ways have not demonstrated capacity and capability to arrest defaulters who infringe the water transport laws.The extant bye-laws have been there for ages but ignorance, negligence and dereliction of duty has become the order of the day.
There’s need for authorities of the Inland Waterways to rise to the challenge by sensitizing riverine dwellers on the need for safety on river transportation.
Content of the sensitization should include hours of travelling during the day and avoidance of night travels.Also constant checks should be placed on boats plying the waterways to fish out dilapidated boats and possibly destroy them to prevent reuse of such dangerous boats.
The government should also subsidize cost of life jackets and maintain that no one should engage in boat ride without a life jacket.There should also be protective jackets for children such that they are fastened to it before any journey.
The maritime police should also look out for overloaded boats and arrest the drivers.
Owing to the fact that many of the riverine dwellers claim to know how to swim,it is necessary to include swimming classes for riverine areas to teach youngsters,male and female, how to perfect the art of swimming to help them survive boat mishaps.
Kwara Boat Accident As An Indictment On Nigerian Maritime Authorities
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA)is belatedly scampering into action to investigate the horrifying and pathetic boat accident at Egbu village in Patigi local Government Area of Kwara state where over 103 persons including children and women perished recently.
When certain grevious issues like the boat disaster happens,it exposes the laxity of authorities who were supposed to put preventive measures in place to forestall such occurrences.
Report says that the National Inland Waterways and it’s Director General,Mr George Muoghalu went on assessment tour to the incident scene to find out the cause of the unfortunate accident and put plans in place to stem future recurrence.
Of what purpose and impact have such visit by Mr Muoghalu and his co travellers made when precious souls have been lost unnecessarily.
The grouse of citizens with the maritime authorities particularly the National Inland Waterways is not being able or showing capacity to control, monitor and generally regulate movement of boats on Nigerian local waterways.
It is common place seeing inhabitants of riverine areas and passengers riding boats without life jackets against safety regulations which of course,is hardly enforced.
Children and women who are mostly vulnerable and unable to escape boat mishaps are commonly seen exposed to those dangers.
The Marine Police units and operatives of both federal and state inland water ways have not demonstrated capacity and capability to arrest defaulters who infringe the water transport laws.The extant bye-laws have been there for ages but ignorance, negligence and dereliction of duty has become the order of the day.
There’s need for authorities of the Inland Waterways to rise to the challenge by sensitizing riverine dwellers on the need for safety on river transportation.
Content of the sensitization should include hours of travelling during the day and avoidance of night travels.Also constant checks should be placed on boats plying the waterways to fish out dilapidated boats and possibly destroy them to prevent reuse of such dangerous boats.
The government should also subsidize cost of life jackets and maintain that no one should engage in boat ride without a life jacket.There should also be protective jackets for children such that they are fastened to it before any journey.
The maritime police should also look out for overloaded boats and arrest the drivers.
Owing to the fact that many of the riverine dwellers claim to know how to swim,it is necessary to include swimming classes for riverine areas to teach youngsters,male and female, how to perfect the art of swimming to help them survive boat mishaps.
