National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has called on the National Assembly to legislate for increased budgetary allocation to the maritime and Inland Waterway sectors.
According to them, this funding should focus on enhancing the safety infrastructure, providing better equipment for emergency response, and recruiting more trained personnel.
The National Secretary General, Comrade Agada Noah made the call on Tuesday during a press conference following recent boat accident that claimed over 200 lives in Kogi.
According to him, the 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.
Speaking on human factors, he said it is imperative to tackle the root causes of these preventable accidents adding that stakeholders must enforce stricter regulations on boat operators, ensure regular maintenance of vessels, and impose penalties for non-compliance with safety standards.
“While we understand the unrelenting efforts of the National Inward Waterways Authority (NIWA) to sensitise 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 sensitisation must be intensified, educating citizens on the importance of adhering to safety measures while using water transportation.
The student union called on the Federal government should expedite the means of facing out wooden boats and replacing them with modern ones.
He also noted that the Federal government through the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy should pay more attention to the NIWA by increasing budgetary allocations and increasing manpower to meet up with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
His words, “That people should be held accountable for waterways accidents or any form of mishap, negligence or breach of waterways safety precautions. National assembly members who come from the riverine areas focus on collaborating with the water transporters and providing modern facilities, campaigns, and sensitisation to reduce accidents.
“We call in the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Media outfits, and agencies to collaborate with NIWA for proper 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.”
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