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BOAT MISHAPS: AN URGENT CALL TO ACTION TO SAFEGUARD LIVES – NAPS
A PRESS CONFERENCE BY YHE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS (NAPS) ON THE RECENT BOAT MISHAP.
Date: December 10, 2024
The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) deeply mourns the tragic loss of lives in the recent boat mishap that has shaken our nation. As the voice of Nigerian polytechnic students and concerned citizens, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and stand in solidarity with the communities affected.
This tragedy serves as a painful reminder of the recurrent boat accidents across the country, many of which are preventable. It is disheartening to note that a significant proportion of these mishaps can be attributed to human factors, including negligence, lack of adherence to safety protocols, alcohol, sailing at nights without headlamps and the use of substandard or overloaded vessels by the boat riders. Other contributing factors include poor infrastructure, inadequate emergency response systems, and non adherence to public awareness about waterway safety.
OUR POSITION
1. Addressing Human Factors:
It is imperative to tackle the root causes of these preventable accidents. Stakeholders must enforce stricter regulations on boat operators, ensure regular maintenance of vessels, and impose penalties for non-compliance with safety standards.
2. Grassroots Sensitization:
While we understand the unrelenting efforts of the National Inward Waterways Authority (NIWA) to sensitize the riverine communities, boat users and other stakeholders, we still call on the Federal and State Governments, legislators as well as relevant agencies, to prioritize safety awareness campaigns. Grassroots sensitization must be intensified, educating citizens on the importance of adhering to safety measures while using water transportation.
3. Legislative Action:
We urge the National Assembly to legislate for increased budgetary allocation to the maritime and inland waterway sectors. This funding should focus on enhancing the safety infrastructure, providing better equipment for emergency response, and recruiting more trained personnel.
On NIWA:
We use this medium to commend the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H E , Adegboyega Oyetola and the Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, FCIB, for the gracious adoption and implementation of the Nigeria’s Water Transportation code into reality. A working document that has for several years been in the pipeline.
Also, we acknowledge the fortification of the waterways surveillance for the enforcement of safety rules and regulations, emergency response to security threat and safe waterways patrol.
While pushing for a safer waterways, NIWA had trained over 300 boat operators, distributed thousands of life jackets, recruited over 500 water marshals, translation of safety campaign materials into over 40 languages along the riverine, prompt removal of logs after as and at when due, community engagements among many others.
OUR DEMANDS:
1. That the FG should expedite the means of facing out wooden boats and replacing them modern ones.
2. That the FG through the ministry of Marine and Blue Economy should pay more attention to the NIWA by increasing budgetary allocations and increase manpower to meet up with the Renewed Hope agenda of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
3. That people should be held accountable for waterways accidents or any form of mishap, negligence or breach of waterways safety precautions.
4. That National assembly members who come from the riverine areas focus of collaborating with the water transporters and provide modern facilities, campaigns and sensitization to reduce accidents.
5. We call in the Nigeria Union of Journalist, Media outfits and agencies to collaborate with NIWA for proper and sensitization.
6. Emphatically, we call on the state Governors to support NIWA’s effort in depositing the waterways in Nigeria.
Therefore, as the representatives of the younger generation, we remain committed to advocating for the safety and well-being of Nigerians. We enjoin relevant authorities to ensure that proactive measures are taken to prevent future occurrences of such tragedies.
The loss of even a single life is too many. Let this mishap be a turning point in our collective resolve to ensure that no Nigerian has to die needlessly due to preventable factors.
Signed:
Agada Noah
National Secretary General,
National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS)
