British High Commission trains 10 NDLEA officers on boat skipping
To curb importation of drugs through the nation’s inland waterways, the British High Commission in Nigeria has facilitated the training of 10 officials of the marine department of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on navigation of the inland waterways against drug traffickers.
The maritime competency training courses and exams offered to the NDLEA was sponsored by the British Deputy High Commission in Nigeria, while the training was carried out by consultants to the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) on training; Metropolitan Waterways Concepts Limited.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Eng Sarat Braimah, said there are lots of skippers and boat operators on the waterways who are yet to be trained, saying this was causing a lot of menace and accident on the waterways and attendant loss of lives.
“Most of our boat mishaps are caused by human errors which means that most of the skippers don’t know what it means to be in the waters, they do not understand most of the signs. We know you have trained the NDLEA, congratulations to the trainees, but please help us to train more.
“Like they say, if you don’t train them, you don’t blame them, you cannot blame who you did not train. This is why we have mandated this course for the boat operators. We know what is happening on our waterways and we want to change it by all means,” Eng. Sarat stated.
However, the representative of the British Deputy High Commission, Marie Maxwell, who congratulated the NDLEA officers that completed the training program, says the office is very proud to be supporting the NDLEA in their war against drugs.
“We are very proud to be supporting the NDLEA in their war against drugs, we are helping them develop their maritime capabilities to protect Nigeria from the threats of organized drug crime.”
She commended NDLEA in recording huge successes so far in their successive commands. According to her, this particular training is part of the three years program of activities to develop patrol capabilities to deal with drug crimes in Nigerian waters.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer, Metropolitan Waterways Concepts, consultants to NIWA on training, Eng Lateef Onikoyi, noted that out of the 12 NDLEA officials registered for the training, only 10 of them passed, while two would retake their exams.
According to him, the NDLEA officers were trained on the following Maritime Courses: Power Boat and RIB Master Course which is the NIWA approved training for all Boat Drivers (skippers); Day Skippers Course which is the Advance Training for the Operation of Boats in the Coastal Passage; Coastal Yachts Master which is more of the Practical Training of the Day Skippers Course.
“I have no doubt that the Officers who have attended the courses have gained a lot and increased their Competency in boat handling. Once again, please permit me to appreciate the British Deputy High Commission for the great opportunity given to the officers of the NDLEA by sponsoring the training.”
