NIWA Unveils Search and Rescue Centre In Lagos

Few weeks after activating navigational aids in Lagos, the National Inland waterways Authority (NIWA) has launched a Search and Rescue centre to prioritize safety for Lagos waterways users.

To ensure the centre is adequately manned to respond to emergencies, 17 officials of the marine department in the NIWA Lagos Area Office, were trained and stationed at the facility.

These officials were trained on how to activate, identify and direct safety ecology towards distressed crafts on water.

The Lagos Search and Rescue team, were also drilled on basic training on Radio Communication skills and how to use same to strategically network with crafts and other national emergency agencies as specified by International Maritime Organization (IMO) whenever a save our soul (SOS) operational situation arises on water.

In a brief remark during the inauguration of the Search and Rescue Center, Engr. Sarat Lara Braimah, Area Manager, NIWA Lagos, expressed deep appreciation to the Managing Director of NIWA, Dr George Moghalu for approving and setting up the Search and Rescue Center few weeks after unveiling navigational buoys for safe water transportation in Lagos.

She also thumbed up the General Manager, Marine, NIWA Headquarters, engineer, Joseph Ororo for encouragement and reiterated that by these safety measures, Dr. Moghalu has challenged the Lagos Area Office of NIWA, to brace up for effective discharge of its mandate.

However, Engr. Braimah informed team Lagos Rescue Center, that to whom much is given, much is expected, stressing that all hands must be on deck as safety issues requires deep interpretation, implemention and joint execution.