By Uzor Odigbo
The National Inland Water Authority (NIWA) has impounded a boat conveying 12 students without life jackets.
The Authority also disclosed that two persons have been arrested in connection to the incident adding that the students are from Government Secondary School Takwa Bay , who were on their way to Osborne for a school event.
Lagos Area Manager, NIWA, Engineer Mu’Azu Sambo at a press briefing in Lagos on Monday, said the operator and the captain of the impounded boat would be charged to court under the extant laws adding that the action by the authority would serve as deterrent to other operators in the industry.
Engineer Sambo who noted that Takwa Bay- Osborne route is one of the busiest and most turbulent axis considering the high current from the ocean, pointed that “None of the children wore a life jacket on that open boat”.
With picture evidence made available to newsmen at the briefing,the NIWA Area Manager maintained that the Authority places high premium on the safety of lives on water and will not relent in its determination to monitor the activities on the inland waterways with routine and control inspection.
He added ” The Authority had only recently toured all passenger jetties in Lagos on sensitisation campaign on safety,with particular emphasis on the use of life jackets,amongst other requirements.
“We view this incident as a gross travesty of this campaign, which consequences could have been the avoidable loss of precious young Nigerian lives.
” A standard approved life jacket is an essential requirement for water transportation and its use is mandatory, for it is the only tool that helps to ensure the survival of lives in the unfortunate event of a mishap.
“Nobody can rule out the possibility of a mishap occurring on any trip at any given time ,as a result of several factors that may be beyond human control.
” We will seek maximum lawful penalties for those who violate safety measures on the waterways.
He further called on stakeholders in the water transportation sub sector and the media to support the Authority in its campaign towards ensuring safety on the brown waterways.
The suspects are Balogun Oriyomi (Boat Owner ) and Solomon Gbenga (Captain).
It was also gathered that the boat owner (Oriyomi) is a member of ATBOWANTAN
According to him,the operators have been handed over to Lion Building Police station in Lagos.
