NIWA, NSIB set to curb boat mishaps

The Acting Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Malam Yusuf Girei, has stated that NIWA would deepen collaboration with the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to improve safety and reduce boat accidents across the country’s inland waterways.

Girei said the partnership would focus on collaboration, information sharing and joint operations to tackle the persistent challenge of boat mishaps.

Malam Umar Yusuf Girei, gave the assurance the visit of the Director General of NSIB, Captain Alex Sabundu Badeh Jnr, to the NIWA headquarters in Lokoja, Kogi State.

According to him, effective cooperation among relevant stakeholders is critical to ensuring safer navigation and the protection of lives and property on Nigeria’s waterways.

“NIWA is dedicated to strengthening partnerships with sister agencies to improve safety standards and enforce regulations for safer water transportation in Nigeria,” he stated.

The Acting MD further assured the NSIB delegation of NIWA’s readiness to provide relevant information, technical expertise and operational support. This, he said, will facilitate timely investigations into marine incidents and help develop preventive measures to reduce future occurrences.

Earlier, the NSIB Director General, Captain Badeh, said the visit was aimed at strengthening the existing relationship between both agencies and exploring areas of collaboration in accident investigation, data sharing and safety standards.