The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has said that its zero tolerance for accident policy will help to reduce boat mishaps in all the inland navigable waters in the country.

The managing director of NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji, said this at a one-day sensitisation and awareness campaign on safety for boat operators, passengers and stakeholders held on Thursday at Oguta, Oguta Local Government Area of Imo.

Mr Oyebamiji, represented by the authority’s Owerri area manager, Vincent Ovia, said that the federal government was worried about the incessant accidents and attendant loss of lives and property on the waterways.

He said the introduction of the new Water Transportation Code 2023 serves as a legal document to arrest and prosecute boat operators and water transporters who violate the law as prescribed by the code.

“This code serves as a safety tool to guide all boat drivers and users to avert possible accidents or boat mishaps, which may cause loss of lives and property.

“You will recall, sometime in April, we did an open-air sensitisation concerning this matter, in conjunction with the Navy, and we gave a grace of about 40 days to you to register your boats as well as acquire safety tools.

“But what we have observed is that many of you have yet to acquire them or register your boats.

“This time, the code will be thoroughly enforced, and any boat driver caught carrying passengers without the necessary safety machinery and operating an unregistered boat will be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.

Mr Oyebamiji, who alerted the operators about the impending flood, also advised them to be alert and always have a “Plan B” to avoid being victims.

He warned that river marshalls have been inaugurated by the agency with the power to arrest and impound any boat that might be found wanting.

The code emphasises the fitness of boat operators before sailing, stipulates the number of passengers a boat should carry, and stresses the importance of good weather.

It also emphasises the compulsory use of life jackets, a boat master for every boat operator and an operational time from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In an interview, the chairman, Miners Association of Nigeria, Imo chapter, Ugochukwu Onyenwenwa, urged boat operators to abide by the safety regulations and avoid being overconfident in their expertise.

Mr Onyenwenwa called for more safety training and the provision of life jackets to operators, passengers, fishermen and farmers, especially women.

A community leader and boat operator, Ijeoma Okereafor, commended NIWA for the safety sensitisation and awareness campaign.

Mr Okereafor, however, appealed to NIWA to assist them with “original” life jackets and appealed for an extension of the hours of operation.

“The life jackets we have do not have whistles and the time they scheduled for operation is too short because many farmers and traders return home as late as 8 p.m.,” he said.

The programme, which had the theme “No to boat accident,” was also attended by the representatives of the Nigerian Navy and police.

(NAN)