Nigeria’s waterway safety gets boost as NIWA, NSIB deepen collaboration
Maureen Aguta
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) have pledged to deepen their collaboration to curb the recurring incidents of boat mishaps across Nigeria’s inland waterways through enhanced safety measures, joint operations and improved accident investigations.
The commitment was made on Tuesday when the Director-General of NSIB, Captain Alex Sabundu Badeh Jnr, paid a courtesy visit to the Acting Managing Director of NIWA, Malam Umar Yusuf Girei, at the Authority’s headquarters in Lokoja, Kogi State.
Speaking during the meeting, Girei said both agencies would strengthen cooperation in information sharing, technical support and operational activities aimed at improving safety standards and safeguarding lives and property on the nation’s waterways.
He stressed that effective collaboration among relevant stakeholders remains critical to addressing the persistent challenge of boat accidents, which have claimed hundreds of lives in recent years.
“NIWA is committed to strengthening partnerships with sister agencies to improve safety standards and enforce regulations for safer water transportation in Nigeria,” he said.
According to him, the Authority is ready to provide the NSIB with relevant information, technical expertise and operational support to facilitate timely investigations into marine incidents and the development of preventive strategies that would reduce future occurrences.
Girei noted that a robust accident investigation mechanism, backed by inter-agency collaboration, would significantly enhance efforts to identify the root causes of water transport accidents and improve regulatory interventions.
Earlier, Captain Badeh said the NSIB’s visit was aimed at reinforcing the existing relationship between both organisations and exploring new areas of collaboration in accident investigation, data sharing and safety regulation.
He explained that the Bureau remains committed to working closely with NIWA to promote a proactive safety culture across Nigeria’s inland waterways sector.
The renewed partnership comes amid growing concerns over the frequency of boat mishaps across the country and is expected to strengthen institutional efforts to improve compliance with safety regulations, enhance emergency response mechanisms and reduce preventable fatalities on Nigeria’s waterways.
