*NEMA stresses importance of safe boarding procedures, flood survival skills
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has cautioned boat operators against night sailing, overloading and failure to use life jackets to prevent avoidable accidents on Nigerian waterways.
Zonal Area Manager, NIWA Kaduna and Katsina Area Offices, Mr. Munir Mohammed, gave the warning at a safety sensitisation campaign on waterway safety and flood control in Kaduna.
Mohammed said preventable human errors, including the use of unseaworthy boats, overloading and failure to wear life jackets, contributed to boat accidents.
He said the campaign was designed to promote the use of standard life jackets, educate water users on flood safety precautions and discourage unsafe navigation practices.
Mohammed urged participants to apply the safety measures demonstrated during the campaign and promote awareness in their communities and at jetties.
He called for stronger collaboration among emergency management agencies, security personnel and other stakeholders to improve waterway safety and emergency response.
In his presentation, Abdulkadir Mohammed, Head of Search and Rescue, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), stressed the importance of safe boarding procedures and flood survival skills among water users.
He said people whose livelihoods depended on rivers needed adequate safety education to protect themselves and return home alive after their daily activities.
Mohammed urged boat operators and other river users to take safety precautions seriously, particularly during flooding and other emergencies, to minimise risks to lives and property.
In his remarks, Engr. Bala Micah, Assistant Chief Technical Officer, NIWA, said the authority had trained more than 60 boat operators on safety measures to reduce human errors and prevent accidents.
Micah said the training would continue to improve compliance with safety regulations among boat operators on Nigerian waterways.
He urged boat owners to maintain their vessels and engines, engage trained operators and provide appropriate emergency equipment.
Micah advised operators to assess weather and water conditions before journeys, observe vessel capacity limits and ensure passengers wore life jackets correctly.
He said River Kaduna had the potential to support transportation, fishing, tourism, job creation and revenue generation if properly developed.
Micah called for collaboration between the Kaduna State Government and NIWA to promote responsible dredging, environmental protection and sustainable river development.
He said efforts to harness the economic potential of inland waterways must prioritise the protection of human lives.
NIWA donated life jackets to boat operators as part of efforts to promote waterways safety.