The Managing Director, National Inland waterways Authority (NIWA), Dr George Moghalu (middle), Lagos Area Manager, NIWA, Engr. Sarat Lara Braimah (right) and the President, Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), Mr. Ganiyu Tarzan Balogun; after inspecting navigational buoys facilitated by NIWA on Lagos waterways from Marina to Ikorodu, today.
By Kenneth Jukpor
The Managing Director, National Inland waterways Authority (NIWA), Dr George Moghalu has assured that the apex regulatory agency on brown water economy will leave no stoned unturned in the quest to ensure accident free water transportation in the country.
Moghalu further stressed that safety on waterways as the major mandate of NIWA will be pursued with vigour under his watch as a process to engender confidence among water transportation operators and users, and also to attract local and foreign investment.
The NIWA boss who was speaking after inspecting navigational buoys facilitated by NIWA on Lagos waterways from Marina to Ikorodu, with an ongoing phase two from same Marina, navigating iworo to Badagry, noted that the Lagos template, geared towards activating a national water transportation safety architecture will further help in emergency rescue operations and provide distressed boats an anchor before help arrives, thus eliminating incidences of crafts drifting on mid waters.
Accompanied by Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Engr. Sarat Lara Braimah and President, Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON) Ganiyu Tarzan Balogun, Dr Moghalu assured that NIWA will not fail in its responsibilities to attain an accident free water transport system across littoral states in Nigeria.
On his part, Mr Ganiyu Balogun thumped up the NIWA initiative, describing Dr. Moghalu as a man of his words and someone who could be trusted to make water transportation safe and attractive for all.
“At the last stakeholders meeting last year in Lagos, Dr. Moghalu promised to ensure navigable Lagos waterways through provision of buoys which would not only serve as an anchor point for distressed boat operators but will help provide access and geographical location to rescue efforts. Today, we have seen that promised fulfilled and we say more grease to his elbows” an excited Mr Balogun said.
