The General Secretary of the Association of Bonded Terminal Operators of Nigeria (ABTON), Haruna Omolajomo, has said that failure to fully enforce safety regulations on Nigeria’s inland waterways may put countless lives at risk, despite the federal government’s recent efforts to curb accidents.
Omolajomo explained that the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), as the regulatory agency, must strengthen its enforcement of safety standards across all jetties and collaborate with state governments to ensure a more efficient monitoring system.
With over 10,000 kilometres of navigable inland waterways connecting key ports such as Apapa, Tincan, Port Harcourt, Onne, Warri, and Calabar, Omolajomo stressed that a fragmented enforcement approach would only continue to lead to accidents and avoidable deaths.
He lamented that although the number of NIWA marshals had been increased from 80 to 350 to manage flashpoints along the waterways, the figure remained grossly inadequate.
“How can 350 marshals effectively monitor 10,000 kilometres? This means one marshal is expected to cover 28.5 kilometres, which is practically impossible,” he said.
To address the shortfall, he suggested that NIWA either recruit more marshals or collaborate with state governments to provide additional personnel, noting that at least 20 to 30 states could be actively involved in a joint patrol system that would enhance enforcement and allow for quick response to incidents.
He also called for a review of the NIWA Act to enable states to participate in the regulation and control of waterways within their jurisdictions. According to him, this overdue legislative update would be lifesaving and give states the authority to support NIWA in maintaining safety on the waterways.
Omolajomo also urged the agency to closely monitor its personnel to ensure they do not compromise on safety standards.
Drawing parallels with the Customs Intelligence Unit, he proposed the establishment of a similar internal oversight unit within NIWA to submit intelligence reports directly to the agency’s management for decisive action.
The General Secretary advocated for the introduction of a Safety Operations Procedure (SOP) document that would be made available to every boat operator. In addition, regular checks should be conducted on both boat operators and passengers to ensure compliance with safety protocols.
To further improve enforcement, he advised NIWA to work in synergy with other maritime and security agencies operating on the waterways, including the Marine units of the Customs and Police, as well as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Omolajomo recommended several additional measures, including compulsory registration of all boat operators with NIWA, strict adherence to the approved operating hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the prosecution of violators.
He also proposed that boats found operating outside the permitted hours be impounded, their operators prosecuted, and passengers fined appropriately.
He called for the gradual phase-out of wooden boats, which he described as unsafe for inland water transport. He further advised that any operator found intoxicated or in possession of prohibited substances such as marijuana should be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for prosecution.
Conclusively, Omolajomo advocated that only strict enforcement of regulations and standards would ensure the safety of lives and full compliance with the law on Nigeria’s waterways.
