NIWA to allow installmental payments for boat operators training

By Seun Ibiyemi

Following appeals from boat operators on flexible payments for training, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has approved installmental payments to encourage more participation.

The Managing Director of NIWA, Mr. Munirudeen Oyebamiji, gave this concession during a training programme for boat operators in Lagos on Saturday.

Oyebamiji, who was represented by the Lagos Area Manager, Engr. Sarat Braimah, observed that with the option of installments, no operator would have excuses to avoid the training.

“If the operators pay 30 percent of the fee, they can start the training and another 30 percent should be paid during the training. Before receiving their certificates, they should have completed the total payments. This approach is to get everyone onboard with the training. Training is key and it’s better we work together to achieve it.

“The training fee is N80,000 and this covers a period of 3 years. After this payment, the next fees for recertification only costs N16,000 yearly. When you break down the N80,000 into a 3-year span, you’ll find that it costs less than N75 per day,” the NIWA boss said.

According to the NIWA boss, boat operators must have a minimum of 4 lifebuoys on their crafts as she observed that one lifebuoy could save up to 6 people during a boat mishap.

In a bid to maintain safe operations on the Lagos waterways, the NIWA boss also noted that the Authority will commence frequent patrols along the inland waterways.

“NIWA patrol boats will commence monitoring and inspections along the Lagos waterways. With almost 50 members of staff at NIWA Lagos office, 38 police officials, 100 joint task force (JTF) personnel and our collaboration with Marine Police; I believe we have sufficient manpower to carry out frequent patrols which will stimulate the boat operators to conduct their operations in a safe manner,” the regulator said.

During the meeting, some boat operators decried lack of funds to change their boats and beckoned on the federal government to allow them access the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) for financial support.

The operators also alleged that some government agencies extort them on the inland waterways along the Badagry creeks, fingering Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Marine Police, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), among others as the extortionists.

Top waterways operators including the President of Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association (WABOTAN), Mr. Tope Fajemirokun; representatives of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON) graced the occasion which had over 250 boat captains and deckhands from the Badagry region.

The boat captains and deckhands were also trained on how to avoid boat accidents, best approaches during boat mishaps to save lives and minimise casualties, while they also learnt how to manage their vessels for durability and efficient operations.