ATBOWATON commends NIWA, seeks more life jackets to boost waterway safety

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON) has commended the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) for its sustained efforts to improve safety on Nigeria’s inland waterways while calling for increased support through the provision of life-saving equipment and enhanced navigability of water channels.

The appeal was made during a courtesy visit by the association’s national leadership to the NIWA Abuja Area/Liaison Office, where members congratulated the Acting Managing Director of the Authority, Alhaji Umar Yusuf Girei, and the Area Manager of the Abuja Area/Liaison Office, Hajia Aisha Eri, on their recent appointments.

Speaking on behalf of the association, ATBOWATON National President, Dr. Gani Tarzan Balogun, praised NIWA for its continued collaboration with boat operators across the country, particularly its sustained campaign to improve safety standards on inland waterways.

He noted that the Authority’s safety initiatives have yielded visible results, especially in the South-West, but stressed that more needs to be done to address the shortage of life jackets, which he described as one of the most pressing challenges confronting operators.

According to Balogun, adequate provision of life jackets remains essential to protecting passengers and crew members, urging NIWA to prioritise the distribution of additional safety equipment to operators nationwide.

He also advocated greater investment in improving the navigability of Nigeria’s inland waterways, arguing that a more efficient water transport system would reduce pressure on the country’s overstretched road network while providing safer, faster and more cost-effective alternatives for passengers and cargo movement.

Responding, the Acting Managing Director of NIWA, Alhaji Umar Yusuf Girei, appreciated the association for the visit and reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to promoting safe, efficient and sustainable inland water transportation.

He assured the delegation that many of the issues raised were already receiving attention, explaining that NIWA had commenced interventions aimed at strengthening safety standards and improving operations across the nation’s waterways even before the visit.

Also speaking, the Area Manager of the NIWA Abuja Area/Liaison Office, Hajia Aisha Eri, described the engagement as timely and valuable, urging members of ATBOWATON to deploy their wealth of experience in supporting the development of water transportation within the Federal Capital Territory.

She expressed confidence that closer collaboration between the Authority and boat operators would contribute significantly to improving safety, expanding water transport services and advancing the Federal Government’s efforts to unlock the economic potential of Nigeria’s inland waterways.