NIWA to Impound Uncertified Boats, Arrest Operators Across Waterways

The National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, said it has perfected plans to impound all substandard boats, operators and jetty owners operating the nation’s waterway to curb incessant boats’ mishap in the country.

This was disclosed by George Moghalu, the Managing Director, NIWA, in a meeting held with stakeholders on how to curb intermittent boat accidents.

Moghalu explained that the Authority will start to inspect jetties, boats, monitor speed limits, ensure that no operation from 6.30 pm to 6.00 am, no midstream transfer of passengers on the waterway and other protocols.

He said: “These cannot continue; therefore we let owners and operators know that we are now going to enforce all the protocols. We are moving now to re-certify every vessel, no matter how small or how big as long as they operate on our inland waterways. There is going to be certification and re-certification of vessels.

“No vessel that is not certified by NIWA will be allowed on our inland waterways. We are going to impound vessels now, vessels (as far as we are concerned) sea-worthy, vessels that are not certified by NIWA will be impounded.

“We are going to now start a regime of random checks; you are going to see our police on water, chasing or stopping vessels on our waterways. We cannot allow things to continue this way; the use of life jacket must be obeyed. We cannot afford to lose any more lives; even the speed limit must be observed. I know that for us to achieve our aims and desire fully, we must get the buy-in of both the operators, boat owners and all the stakeholders.

“I am sure you are aware that a good percentage of accidents have actually been a consequence of refusal to obey protocols. It is either life jacket are not used; it is either vessels are not certified, it is either the boat operators are not qualified; the vessels are overloaded; it is either a case of over speeding; it is either a case of using the right boat for wrong purposes, or the wrong boat for the right purposes.

“I am sure you are aware that there are protocols already established by NIWA; protocols that insist on wearing of life jackets, protocols that insist of no drugs, the protocol that insists that from 6.30 pm to 6.00 a.m, no boat should be operating, the protocol that states that vessels should not be overloaded for any reason.

“We have come to know that there are midstream transfer of passengers, that is not acceptable. Even when we know that the water is not good for the operation we allow our vessels to go. In some cases you find out that the pilots are over speeding beyond the capacity of those vessels.”