The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has given a newly constituted Special Committee 21 days to review the operations of commercial boat operators in Nigeria’s coastal and inland waterways and submit a comprehensive report.
The committee was set up to tackle the alarming rate of boat mishaps in the country, a problem the minister described as a pressing issue requiring immediate attention.
Speaking during a meeting in Abuja with heads of agencies under his ministry, Oyetola highlighted the urgent need to address the safety concerns surrounding waterway transport.
He explained that the committee’s primary responsibility is to assess the current state of commercial boat operations and recommend actionable solutions to drastically reduce accidents and improve safety standards.
The committee, chaired by Bola Oyebamiji, the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), comprises experts and representatives from relevant agencies, including Prof. S. Abiodun, Dr. A.M. Sule, Dr. B.D. Olaosebikan, and Prof. B. Fakinlede, the Minister’s Technical Assistant. Mr. A. Offie, Deputy Director of Inland Waterways, will serve as the secretary.
The terms of reference guiding the committee include a review of commercial boat transport operations, an assessment of safety and security compliance, and an evaluation of boat specifications against acceptable standards.
The committee is also tasked with developing a comprehensive plan to address these issues and proposing standard design specifications for different categories of commercial boats used in coastal and inland waterways.
Additionally, the committee will consider other related measures necessary to establish a safer and more viable commercial waterway transport system.
Oyetola expressed confidence that the recommendations from the committee will provide a lasting solution to the challenges facing waterway transportation in Nigeria.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring safe and sustainable operations, emphasising the importance of the committee’s work in curbing the menace of boat mishaps.
