Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — To curb the alarming rate of boat mishaps in Nigeria’s waterways, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has set up a Special Committee tasked with developing actionable solutions.
Speaking during a meeting with heads of agencies under the ministry, Oyetola described the frequent accidents on coastal and inland waterways as a matter of urgent national concern, emphasizing the need for immediate intervention.
“It has become a matter of urgent concern, hence the need to proffer solutions to reduce it to the barest minimum,” the minister said.
The Minister gave the committee 21 days to conduct a comprehensive review of commercial boat transport operations in Nigeria.
Terms of reference for the committee include “to investigate the causes of frequent boat mishaps, evaluate the level of safety and security compliance among operators, and examine the suitability of existing boat designs.
“Developing a detailed plan to ensure safer operations on the country’s waterways, proposing standardized specifications for different categories of commercial boats, and recommending additional measures to enhance safety and reliability in the marine sector.”
The committee, chaired by Bola Oyebamiji, Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, comprises high-level officials, including Mr. D. Mobereola, Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Professor S. Abiodun, Executive Director of the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research.
Others are, Dr. A.M. Sule, Executive Director of the National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research; Dr. B.D. Olaosebikan, Provost of the Federal College of Fisheries and Freshwater Technology; Professor B. Fakinlede, Technical Adviser to the Minister; and Mr. A. Offie, Deputy Director of Inland Waterways, who serves as the committee’s secretary.
The committee’s findings and recommendations are expected to set new safety standards for commercial boat operations and address the crisis that has claimed many lives and caused significant property damage in recent years.
