The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Kaduna Area Office, has announced plans to phase out the use of wooden boats in Kaduna State over the next two years.
The Area Manager, Isa Aliyu, revealed this during a courtesy visit to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Kaduna Zonal Office on Monday.
He stated that NIWA is working with boat operators to form an association to ease the transition from wooden boats to speed boats.
According to Aliyu, most accidents on the waterways involve wooden boats or canoes, and NIWA aims to facilitate the acquisition of safer speed boats for operators.
Currently, NIWA has four speed boats available for rent and plans to link operators with organizations that can provide them with boats.
To improve safety, NIWA has been sensitizing people along the river Kaduna on the importance of using life jackets and avoiding overloading boats.
The authority also plans to collaborate with NAN to further educate the public on water safety measures. Aliyu urged boat operators to dispose of wooden boats older than five years and to operate only during the day to reduce the risk of accidents.
As part of the ‘Transportation Regulation Code 2023’, violators of the regulations will face fines or court prosecution. Passengers are also encouraged to demand life jackets and ask operators to reduce speed if necessary.
Additionally, Aliyu warned residents to avoid building structures within 100 meters of the river’s right of way to prevent flooding and property damage.
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