Ambaiowei
The House of Representatives has decried the spate of boats and water craft mishaps along coastal linea and water ways in the country. Adopting a motion initiated by Mr Rodney Ambaiowei at the plenary presided by Speaker Tajudeen Abass, the House urged the National Orientation Agency and National Meteorological Agency to commence copious awareness campaign on safety measures necessary to prevent boat and water craft hazards;
The House further mandated the Committee on NIMASA (when constituted) to undertake a visit to the Netherlands to understudy how the country runs their Boats and water crafts in their coastlines and waterways transportation system with minimal casualties. The House particularly called on both agencies to device new strategic regulatory guidelines and ensure compliance while enhancing rescue measures to ensure adequate security of lives and property.
Ambaiowei noted that Nigeria’s coastline spans about 853km (530miles) and over 3000km of navigable inland water channel with great potential for inland cargo and passenger transportation. He however observed that over the years, there has been repeated incidence of insecurity, threat and act of illegalities which includes crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering, piracy and sea robbery and illegal fishing activities amongst others.
Stating that the Inland Waterways cuts across 23 states of the Federation, he recalled how in Bayelsa State on the 6th April 2023, there was a tragic boat mishap at Okoroma Community along Brass waterways in Brass Local Government Area.
The Lawmaker identified use of alcohol use; excessive speed; failure to vent; improper lookouts; inadequate on board navigation lights; navigation rules violation; operators’ inexperience and inattention, illiteracy and non-challant attitude of boat operator as causes of most of the boat mishaps in Nigeria. He added: “Sadly, not less than five dead bodies were recovered while several persons and still missing.
Also another Boat mishap was recorded along Otuam and Anyama River in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area where a female youth corps member and five others lost their lives. “On Saturday 24th June 2023, in Egbu Village in Patigi Local Government area of Kwara State, a boat with 250 people traveling for wedding event capsized and about 144 victims were rescued.
In Kaduna, 10 students of Victory International secondary school got drowned in a river with just two of them rescued. “In Kano State, in 2021, a boat with 47 people capsized with 20 people dead. In Niger State, a boat from Lokon carrying more than 160 people capsized at Warrah Ngaski. In Birrnin Kebbi, 97 bodies were recovered as a result of a boat mishap.
“In Calabar on the 24th June 2023, three out of 14 Medical Students who have converged at Medical school Calabar for 2023 Nigerian Medical Association Health week got drowned when their boat capsized on water ways. “The boat was reportedly derailed due to high waves as soon as it left for Marina Resort jetty.
The casualties would have been more if not for the prompt intervention of the Divers from the Nigerian Navy. While appreciating the efforts of patriotic Nigerians, he observed that there is need to enhance and courageously give whatever it takes to sustain the economic development that water transportation portends.
