FG trains 75 boat drivers in waterway security

The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Financial system, in collaboration with the Nationwide Inland Waterways Authority, has concluded a three-day boat navigation and security coaching for 75 boat drivers and skippers as a part of efforts to enhance security and professionalism on Nigeria’s inland waterways.

In keeping with a press release launched on Wednesday, the coaching, which passed off from Monday, December 22, 2025, to Wednesday, December 24, 2025, “centered on equipping contributors with the sensible information and operational competence required for the issuance of the Certificates in Secure Boating and Navigation.”

The assertion confused that the contributors had been drawn from main boating associations, together with the Maritime Staff Union of Nigeria, the Affiliation of Vacationer Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria, and the Waterfront Boat House owners and Transporters Affiliation of Nigeria. Boat operators from Lagos, Ogun, and Ondo states additionally took half within the programme.

Talking on the closing ceremony, a consultant of the Marine Division on the NIWA Lagos Space Workplace, Timothy Clement, described the coaching as a big intervention aimed toward decreasing accidents on inland waterways.

“Many earlier boat mishaps had been attributable to restricted technical information and inadequate expertise amongst operators. Sustained capacity-building would assist deal with the problem,” Clement stated.

Clement additionally highlighted ongoing security measures being applied by NIWA, together with the elimination of wrecks to enhance navigation and steady sensitisation of boat operators alongside main routes similar to CMS, Ikorodu, Badore, Badagry, and Port Novo.

He added that NIWA has intensified consciousness campaigns, transferring from jetty to jetty to teach operators on secure practices, whereas encouraging boat house owners to launch extra skippers and captains for structured coaching programmes.

“We thank God for the success of this three-day coaching for boat skippers. Individuals got here from Lagos and different elements of Nigeria, and over the previous three days, they’ve realized a fantastic deal,” Clement stated.

“This 12 months alone, NIWA carried out sensitisation workouts two to a few occasions throughout totally different jetties. We’re encouraging operators to make extra of their captains and skippers accessible for this type of coaching. I imagine that by this time subsequent 12 months, we could have much more causes to have a good time improved security on our waterways,” he added.

Additionally talking, the lead coach and guide, Dr Sileola Akinbowale, described the programme as a life-saving initiative designed to strengthen manpower capability and cut back waterway accidents.

She defined that the coaching was structured to make sure boat operators are correctly outfitted with each theoretical information and hands-on abilities required to function safely and effectively.

Akinbowale counseled the Federal Authorities, the Minister of Marine and Blue Financial system, Adegboyega Oyetola, and the previous Managing Director of NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji, for prioritising security and capability improvement within the sector.

Assessing the programme, she rated it about 90 per cent profitable, noting that it mixed classroom classes with sensible workouts on the water. “We didn’t restrict the coaching to classroom lectures. Individuals had been taken out for sensible classes on the jetty, which made the programme very efficient. It was an all-inclusive coaching, not simply principle,” she stated.

She assured that the initiative can be sustained, stressing that steady capability enhancement stays vital to saving lives and enhancing professionalism on inland waterways.

Individuals expressed satisfaction with the coaching, describing it as well timed and impactful. A Lagos-based boat operator, Wasiu Olalekan, stated the programme had strengthened contributors’ capacity to answer emergencies and misery conditions.

“With this coaching, we now know methods to deal with misery conditions on the waterways due to the information given to us. On behalf of the Lagos State contributors, we respect the Minister and NIWA administration for this chance,” he stated.

One other participant from Ondo State, Biobaku John, stated the coaching uncovered him to vital security and emergency response abilities that will improve his professionalism. “I gained necessary security and firefighting abilities throughout these three days. As a ship driver, I learnt rather a lot, and I’m proud to have participated,” he stated.

Equally, the chief of the Ogun State delegation, Pami Ronald, stated contributors had been educated in boat dealing with, security procedures, first help, emergency response, engine upkeep, and efficient waterway transport administration. “For the previous three days, we realized extensively about security, first help, methods to increase alarms, name for rescue groups, and even engine upkeep. The coaching was very academic,” he stated.

The programme varieties a part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Marine and Blue Financial system and NIWA, in step with suggestions from investigation studies below the tenure of former NIWA Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, to enhance security requirements, professionalism, and confidence amongst inland waterway operators nationwide.

NIWA has taken a number of initiatives aimed toward boosting security on the waterways. Such initiatives embody the gazetting and launching of the Inland Waterways Transportation Code, a complete regulatory framework that standardises water transport operations, mandates security practices similar to life jackets and vessel identification, and imposes fines and penalties on violators to discourage unsafe behaviour.

To scale back unsafe practices, NIWA has banned business loading at unauthorised jetties, prohibited unlicensed boats from working, and barred unlicensed people from piloting vessels—measures aimed toward decreasing threat elements that contribute to accidents.

NIWA has additionally expanded its fleet of security enforcement property, together with patrol boats, water ambulances, and hydrographic survey vessels, and elevated the variety of water marshals tasked with imposing laws at jetties and waterways nationwide.