News
NIWA Intensifies Boat Safety Campaign in Niger
NIWA intensifies boat safety campaign in Niger to curb accidents, enforcing “No Life Jacket, No Boarding” rule across waterways
NIWA intensifies boat safety campaign in Niger State as part of renewed efforts to curb recurring boat accidents and enforce stricter compliance with water transport regulations.
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The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) held the awareness drive in Zumba, Shiroro Local Government Area, under the theme “Safety and Safe Trip – Zero Tolerance to Boat Mishap.”
Mr Akapo Adeboye, NIWA’s Area Manager for Niger and Kwara, said the campaign formed part of the agency’s continuous strategy to enhance safety standards and ensure boat operators and passengers adhere to rules governing inland waterways.
According to him, the sensitisation focused on the “No Life Jacket, No Boarding” directive, alongside warnings against overloading, speeding, and night travel.
“We are here as a taskforce for the safety of lives and property,” Adeboye said. “Our message is clear: no life jacket, no boarding, no overloading, no speeding, and no night travel.”
The campaign, carried out in partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Marine Police, and local boat unions, also featured the distribution of life jackets to operators and passengers.
Adeboye reaffirmed that NIWA maintains a zero tolerance for non-compliance, stressing that offenders would face strict sanctions, including boat seizure and prosecution.
He commended the NIWA Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for their unwavering support toward promoting waterway safety.
Mr Hussaini Isah, NEMA’s Head of Operations in Niger, expressed concern over the rising number of boat mishaps in riverine communities such as Shiroro and New Bussa, which have caused significant loss of lives and livelihoods.
Isah noted that NEMA would continue to partner with NIWA in awareness and enforcement drives, describing public sensitisation as crucial to preventing fatalities.
“People must understand the importance of wearing life jackets, and boat owners must ensure proper maintenance of their boats to avoid accidents,” he said.
In his remarks, Alhaji Sala Altine, Chairman of Boat Drivers in Zumba, praised NIWA’s intervention and called for greater collaboration with enforcement agencies.
“We’ve been sensitising our people, but enforcement will be easier once the state domesticates the National Inland Waterways law,” he said.
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Observers believe the NIWA intensifies boat safety campaign initiative marks a proactive step toward safer and more accountable inland water transportation in Nigeria.
The Lagos State Government has flagged off the enforcement of Executive Order EO/BOS/01/2024, introducing the Lagos Private Health Plans (LPHP) to expand health insurance coverage to salaried workers and corporate organisations.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced that residents and employers have until December 31, 2026, to secure coverage, as formal enforcement of the mandatory health insurance policy kicks off on January 1, 2027.
The new private sector arrangement complements the existing Ilera Eko scheme, which primarily targets vulnerable residents and workers in the informal sector. To drive the initiative, 21 Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) have partnered with the state government to expand access across corporate establishments.
To protect vulnerable residents unable to afford premiums on their own, the state government tripled its Health Equity Fund from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion, covering over 500,000 citizens.
In addition, the state government instituted a strict directive for healthcare providers across the metropolis, warning that no hospital is permitted to turn away patients requiring emergency care due to financial constraints. Under the policy, medical facilities must stabilize patients before demanding payment or insurance verification.
Governor Sanwo-Olu stressed that employee healthcare remains a mandatory employer responsibility comparable to pension obligations, noting that the systemic upgrade aims to safeguard household finances against unexpected medical emergencies.
The spiritual director of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach, Evangelist Ebuka Obi, has shared controversial thoughts on modern relationships, warning men against the practice of training or financially supporting young women in anticipation of marriage.
According to the popular cleric, men who invest resources into sponsoring women often risk losing them to other suitors who have achieved greater financial success.
Speaking during a recent ministration, Obi asserted that contemporary relationship dynamics have shifted, suggesting that financial investment alone does not guarantee commitment.
“The fact remains that some of the girls you are training now will end up not marrying you,” Obi stated. “They will marry someone who has made it further in life than you. Women of this generation don’t care anymore. The only thing that will make a woman stand by you is if you have something she doesn’t have.”
The remarks have since drawn mixed reactions across social media platforms, sparking public debate among Nigerians regarding gender roles, expectations, financial support in courtships, and changing values in modern relationships.
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