Disturbed and worried by the incessant but avoidable boat accidents on Lagos Waterways, Lagos Area office of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has threatened to deregister and withdraw operational license of any indicted operators.
The Authority says, it will also prosecute and ensure the withdrawal of certificate of any boat captain including other stringent measures to force back sanity in the operation of water transportation services in the State.
In a statement signed by the Media Adviser to NIWA Frank Meke, Area Manager, NIWA, Sarat Braimah says the Federal Government regulatory agency can no longer fold its hands and watch some deviant operators and their employees run the business aground, noting that NIWA will go for the shovel in ensuring zero tolerance on boat accidents.
Mrs. Braimah further stated that the Authority’s patience with the unrepentant operators has been overstretched, and hinted of a new agenda of enforcement devoid of plea and forgiveness.
She also disclosed that pre-boarding formalities targeted at passengers awareness will now form part of the enforcement regime to help stabilize and encourage first timers and those afraid of water transportation to adhere to safety measures, particularly during turbulence on the waterways.
The NIWA Area Manager also disclosed that unscheduled and random checks of boats to acertain their seaworthiness will incorporate the enforcement strategy.
Modupe Arotolu
