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Tag: NIWA

  • NIWA, LASWA to resolve waterways regulation rift

    The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Lagos State Inland Waterways Authority (LASWA) will soon resolve their differences over the regulation and control of the waterways.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and NIWA Managing Director Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora made this known yesterday after a meeting at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

    Mamora led top officials of the agency to the meeting.

    Ambode said ending the NIWA and LASWA conflict was the most patriotic thing to do, adding that it would be in the interest of all, especially the people’s economic prosperity.

    The government, he said, was ready for amicable resolution of the conflict, without prejudice to the matter before the Supreme Court.

    The governor said: “We are doing this not just for ourselves; we are doing it for Nigeria and Lagos. I believe that the appointment of Senator Mamora is divine. Since he took over, there has been improvement.

    “I support the amicable resolution of this issue despite the legal tussle we have been having. We also respect the rule of law. We know that whatever the decision of the Supreme Court is, it would still have to be implemented by the operators.”

    Hailing the NIWA management for championing cordial relationship, Ambode directed key government officials to begin talks with the NIWA team and come up with a structured approach to solidify the partnership.

    Mamora said his team came to resolve issues relating to waterways transportation, right of way of waterfront and sensitise users on the need to comply with transportation code.

  • Buhari to commission Baro River Port

    President Mohammadu Buhari GCFR will on Saturday, inaugurate the just completed Baro River Port in Niger State.

    The river port project which was undertaken by the Chinese firm, CGCC Global Project Nigeria Limited, at the cost of N6 billion, is equipped with a mobile harbour crane, a transit shed, an administrative block, fire hydrant system, water treatment plant, reach stacker, 100KVA power generating set and three forklifts of various tonnages, among others.

    The General Manager, Corporate Affairs, National Inland Waterways (NIWA), Tayo Fadile, in a statement issued in Lokoja, Kogi State, said that the Baro River Port is among those built to support the dredging of the Lower River Niger project.

    “The Onitsha River Port has already been rehabilitated, while Oguta and Lokoja River Ports are nearing completion,” he added.

    Read Also: It won’t be first time, if I lose February Polls – Buhari

    According to him, the Baro River Port, will aside helping to keep off the road several heavy duty trailers and trucks, thereby extending the life span of our roads, is expected to create at least two thousand direct jobs and hundreds of thousands indirect jobs.

    “During the colonial era, Baro used to have a thriving river port and a railway line which were used for evacuation of farm produce and mineral resources. It was a trading point between Nigeria and neighbouring countries through the inland waterways transportation mode. Here is hope that the old rail lines used in the colonial days will be revived and the road network linking the port is already being upgraded,” he said.

  • NIWA: 12 died in Kwara boat mishap

    The management of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has said 12, not 19 persons, died in the Chewuru Ferry Port boat mishap in Kwara State at the weekend.

    Commiserating with the government and people of Kwara State on the boat mishap at Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area, on behalf of the management, NIWA’s General Manager for Corporate Affairs Tayo Fadile said information from the Area Manager in Minna, the Niger State capital, who covers Kwara State, Abubakar M. Wathanafa, confirmed that 12 people died while two others were rescued.

    Speaking in Lokoja, the Kogi State, yesterday, Fadile said search and rescue efforts were “still ongoing by the combined team of NIWA, Marine police, fire service and local divers”.

    He added: “The Area Manager attributed the cause of the accident to failure to adhere to NIWA safety guidelines, which include overloading of the boat, using dilapidated and old boat and failure to use life jackets by the passengers.”

    He urged the public, particularly those using water transportation, to adhere to NIWA safety guidelines.

  • 12 died in Kwara boat mishap – NIWA

    The management of the National Inland Waterways Authority, (NIWA) on Monday in Lokoja, Kogi State, said that 12 people died in the Chewuru Ferry Port boat mishap in Kwara State, over the weekend.
    Commiserating with the government and people of Kwara State on the boat mishap in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of the state, on behalf of the management, Tayo Fadile, NIWA’s General Manager Corporate Affairs, explained that information made available by the Area Manager in Minna who covers Kwara State, Surv. Abubakar M. Wathanafa, who visited the site of the boat mishap confirmed that twelve people lost their lives, while two survivors were rescued.
    He stated that search and rescue efforts is “still ongoing by the combine team of NIWA, Marine Police, Fire Service and Local divers.”

    Read Also: Kwara govt decries prevalence of child marriage

    According to him: “The Area Manager attributed the cause of the accident on failure to adhere to NIWA safety guidelines, which includes overloading of the boat, using dilapidated and old boat and failure to use life jackets by the passengers.”
    He appeal to the public particularly those using water transportation to strictly adhere to NIWA safety guidelines.
    “The present management is working hard to ensure that such unfortunate incidents are reduced to the barest minimum.
    “NIWA will continue to encourage boat users to use modern and safe water transportation mode on our waterways,” he admonished.
    Earlier reports had it that 19 people lost their lives in the boat mishap.

  • NIWA confirms 11 dead, 7 missing in Benue boat mishap

    The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) yesterday  confirmed that 11 died in the boat mishap that occurred on River Bukuru in Benue State and not 18 as earlier reported by a section of the media.

    The organisation said in a statement in Lokoja that 12 of the passengers in the ill fated boat were also rescued by divers.

    Seven of the passengers remain missing the agency said.

    “The search for the seven remaining bodies is ongoing,” NIWA’s General Manager in charge of corporate affairs, Mr Tayo Fadile said in the statement.

    Eighteen  of the motorcycles on board have also been recovered.

    NIWA’s  Area Manager in charge of Benue State, Mr Danjuma Mohammed has already visited the scene of the accident for an on the spot assessment and report.

    While explaining possible cause of the accident, NIWA explained that the boat was overloaded as it was used to ferry 30 passengers against standard practice.

    It said:“ The Area Manager also confirmed that against NIWA safety guideline which stipulated that boats and river craft should not travel after 6.00pm on our waterways, this ill-fated boat started its journey by 9:00pm, and also contrary to NIWA safety guidelines none of the 30 passengers were wearing life jackets.

    “We are particularly worried that a ferry boat designed to carry only vehicles was illegally turned to a passenger vessel, causing the loss of 11 precious lives.”

  • 11 people died in Benue boat mishap – NIWA

    The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), with headquarters in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Friday confirmed that eleven people lost their lives in the both mishap along River Buruku in Benue State.

    NIWA in a press release issued on Friday, which was signed by Mr. Tayo Fadile, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, said twelve people were rescued, while the search for seven others is ongoing.

    He stated that these was contrary to reports that eighteen people lost their lives in the both accident.

    “The attention of National Inland Waterways Authority has been drown to media reports claiming that eighteen (18) people lost their lives along River Buruku in Benue State.

    He attributed the cause of the accident to overloading.

    “However, information made available to us by NIWA’s Area Manager in Benue State, Engr. Danjuma Mohammed Kabiru, who visited the site of the boat accident confirmed that eleven (11) people died while twelve (12) were rescued and eighteen (18) motorcycles that were on the boat recovered.

    Read Also: 69 percent out-of-school children in north – UNICEF

    “The search for the seven (7) remaining bodies is ongoing.
    It should be noted that as against the standard practice, a vehicular boat was used to ferry the 30 passengers on board which was obviously overloaded.

    “The Area Manager also confirmed that against NIWA safety guideline which stipulated that boats and river craft should not travel after 6pm on our waterways, this ill-fated boat started its journey by 9pm, and also contrary to NIWA safety guidelines none of the 30 passengers were wearing life jackets.

    “While we commiserate with the government and people of Benue State on this unfortunate incident, we are also using this opportunity to urge all intending passengers on our waterways to always adhere to the safety guidelines as provided by NIWA, especially the need to wear life jacket and to discourage traveling on our waterways after 6pm.

    “We are particularly worried that a ferry boat designed to carry only vehicles was illegally turned to a passenger vessel, causing the loss of eighteen (18) precious lives,” he stated.

  • Lagos, NIWA feud over land

    The Lagos State government has accused the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) of illegal occupation of the state’s land.

    The government, which cited the illegal placing and authorising placement of vessels and containers on the  land belonging to the state on Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1 area by NIWA, as part of the illegality, blamed the development on NIWA’s exploitation of the provisions of its enabling statute, which is said to have been earlier nullified by a court of competent jurisdiction.

    At a three-day investigative hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Ports, Harbours and Waterways at the National Assembly, Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Lands Bureau, Mr.  Bode Agoro, affirmed that all the land in the state is vested in the governor who holds same in trust and administered for the use and common benefit of all Nigerians in accordance with the provisions of the Land Use Act.

    Agoro told the Committee that by virtue of “Designation of Urban Areas Order” dated March 2, 1981, all the different areas and names located on the Lagos State Regional Plan  (1980-2000) of the Lagos State are designated as Urban Areas, thereby placing all land in  the state under the control and management of its governor.

    In his submissions, the Permanent Secretary told the Committee that the parcels of land in Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki and Apapa, among others, were either acquired by Colonial Administration through Crown Ordinance, which is now State Land Law Chapter S11, Laws of Lagos State 2015, while the governor, through the Land Use and Allocation Committee, has the power to allocate land in conformity with the provision of the Land Use Act for residential, industrial, commercial, or institutional purposes.

    Arguing further, Agoro said Decree No 52 is contained in Lands  (Title Vesting, etc ) Act, Cap L7, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 , Act which is now incorporated in section 13 of the NIWA Act, Cap N47, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    He however conceded that the Federal Military Government through Decree No 52 of 1993 compulsorily acquired the parcel of land within 100 metres limit of the shoreline and all land reclaimed near the lagoon, sea or ocean in or bordering Nigeria.

    This acquisition of land as described in The Lands (Title Vesting, etc) Act, was challenged in Suit No FHC/ FHC/ CS/ 669/95, by Elegushi Chieftaincy family and others at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos presided over by Justice T. A. Odunowo wherein the court declared the acquisition i.e Decree No 52 of 1993, null and void.

    He therefore concluded that the provision of section 13 of the NIWA Act, Cap N47 is a nullity based on the decision of the Federal High Court aforementioned, same having not been appealed.

    Responding, the General Manager, Lagos Zone, NIWA, Muazu Sambo, told the Committee that all navigable waterways, inland waterways, river ports and internal waters of Nigeria, excluding direct approaches to the ports listed in the Third Schedule to the NIWA Act and other waters declared to be approaches to ports under or pursuant to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Act, up to 250 metres beyond the upstream edge of the quay of such ports, are under the exclusive management, direction and control of NIWA.

    He noted that a subsisting Court of Appeal’s decision in G. M. Enterprises Limited vs C.R. investment Limited held that NIWA has been conferred with power and right to control, develop, manage and use all the lands navigable waterways, inland waterways and river ports throughout Nigeria.

    But the Director and Head of Legal, Lands Bureau, Mr Emmanuel Akande, said the Court of Appeal’s decision in G. M. Enterprises Limited vs C.R. Investment Ltd relates to the validity of the NIWA Act and not the interpretation of Section 12 and 13. He stressed that the Land  (Title Vesting etc) Act has been declared null and void by a court of competent jurisdiction.

    Commenting on the implication of Section 49 (1) of the Land Use Act, earlier referred to by Sambo, Akande said it is to the effect that any claim of title to land vested in the Federal Government or its agency after the Land Use Act came into effect on March 29, 1978, is ultra vires and thus, invalid.

    He said NIWA was created by an Act in 1997 after the promulgation of the Land Use Act in 1978, and so, cannot benefit from the provision of Section 49 (1) having been created after the commencement of the Land Use Act.

    Akande said the acquisition of Land in Lekki Phase 1 by NIWA was illegal and ultra vires based on the fact that the Lagos State had earlier acquired the land in 1972 by virtue of the Lagos State Official Gazette No. 20. Vol.5 dated  August 18, 1972, covering all that parcel of land at Maroko, Ilado and Moba villages ( now Lekki Phase 1), containing an approximate area of  3100 acres.

    The committee, headed by Patrick Asadu, expressed its dis satisfaction over the insufficiency of documents furnished her by NIWA in support of the claim and concluded on reconvening at a later date for further deliberation to reach an amicable solution.

  • NIWA ‘cuts’ MTN cable over right of way

    Officials of the National Inland Waterways (NIWA) have allegedly cut MTN Nigeria’s optic fibre cable in Cross River State over right of way (RoW).

    According to a source, who spoke   in confidence at the weekend in Lagos, the cable has been cut thrice in quick successions without the agency following due process.

    The source added that Kogi State has allegedly been pestering the telco over payment for RoW, which has already been paid to the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Works.

    “We have recorded three cuts on our cable in Cross River State in recent times by NIWA officials over payment of RoW,  which we have paid to the Federal Government through the Ministry of Works. In Kogi State too, we are having issues with NIWA over the same payment. We have been trying to get one of its officials identified simply as Suleiman to resolve the issue,” the official lamented.

    According to a document, officials of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had, in its regulatory intervention role, held  meetings with NIWA officials and Federal Ministry of Works on the RoW issues. Resolutions reached at those meetings urged parties to articulate position paper in which identifiable conflicting provisions would be highlighted for harmonisation; that during the pendency of the negotiation, NIWA shall continue to issue demand notices to operators without enforcement action until after six months starting from August 18, 2017.

    It said NIWA should not obstruct, stop or hinder the deployment/construction/installation of telecoms infrastructure during the pendency of the above period; that the Commission, as an arbiter, should persuade the Minister of Communication to use his good office to bring the two ministries (Transport, Works, Power and Housing) together to hasten negotiation on these resolutions. It added that the NCC should advise telecoms operators to always submit their infrastructure rolling plans to NIWA where it is within their RoW for costing to avoid breach.

     

  • Amaechi inaugurates governing boards of Shippers’ Council, NIWA, others

    Amaechi inaugurates governing boards of Shippers’ Council, NIWA, others

    The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, on Friday inaugurated the governing board of five agencies under the ministry, charging them to work in line with the policy direction of the Federal Government.

    The minister inaugurated the boards at the Office of the Secretary of the Federation (OSGF) in Abuja.

    The boards inaugurated included those of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN).

    Others were – Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (CRFFN) and Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology (NITT).

    Amaechi reminded the boards of their roles of setting operational and administrative policies for their respective agencies in line with government policy direction.

    “We expect them to perform their responsibilities. The ministry will not oversee them unnecessarily.

    “We will play a supervisory role, but we will want to make sure that there is peace.

    “Nigerians don’t want to hear stories, they want us to deliver. So we expect the boards to deliver in that line

    “We know that there are challenges but they have to deliver on their mandate,“ he said.

    The Chairman Governing Board of NIWA, Vice Admiral Ishaya Ibrahim, thanked the Federal Government for giving them the opportunity to serve.

    He said the boards would deliver on their mandate.

    NAN

     

     

  • 99 persons die in boat mishaps in Lagos, two others

    99 persons die in boat mishaps in Lagos, two others

    No fewer than 99 persons died in six  boat mishaps that occurred in Kebbi, Niger and Lagos States between April and September, according to a survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    The survey was conducted in Kebbi, Niger and Lagos States.

    Two boat mishaps each were recorded on River Niger, Niger and Lagos State, within the period.

    The survey also revealed that 47 people were rescued, while some unspecified number of persons got missing.

    The worst of the mishaps was recorded in Kebbi on Sept. 14 when 53 persons , who were mostly traders ,lost their lives on River Niger.

    It was gathered that the traders were among 100 persons going to Poll market  in Bagudo Local Government Area when the incident occurred.

    However, 47 of the victims were lucky as they were rescued alive by divers.

    The Chairman of the Bagudo Local Government, Alhaji Muhammad Zagga, who confirmed the incident said that about 500 divers were deployed to rescue the victims.

    Also in Kebbi, seven persons had on April 15 died when the overloaded boat in which they were traveling on River Niger hit a tree trunk , forcing it to capsize.

    The passengers believed to be about 150 were  returning from Malali market in Ngaski Local Government Area of the state.

    In Niger, 30 persons died in two boat mishaps recorded in the state within the period.

    The mishaps occurred on River Niger which passes through Borgu Local Government Area and River Kaduna which passes through Shiroro Local Government Area.

    Alhaji Ibrahim Inga, the Director-General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency ( NSEMA) confirmed this to NAN.

    In Lagos State, 9 persons died in two boat mishaps recorded on the lagoon between April and September.

    The Lagos Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority ( NIWA ), Mr Mua’zu Sambo, who confirmed this to NAN, said that one person got missing in one of the incidents.

    Sambo described the figures so far, as an improvement when compared with 2016 when 26 deaths were recorded in five boat mishaps.

    He also said the only way accidents could be reduced on Waterways was for users to comply strictly with safety guidelines from the organisation.

    The Public Affairs Manager,  Mr Tayo Fadile, said users should stop sailing on the Waterways at night, saying that the law only permitted sailing between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

    Fadile advised operators not to take in passengers beyond the capacity of the boat.

    According to him, a boat used for more than five years should be overhauled, while operators should refrain from taking drug or alcohol during boat ride.

    He also emphasised the need for passengers to always put on life jacket before entering boat, while urging operators to properly register their boats with NIWA.

    Fadile said NIWA would continue to engage users of Waterways during safety awareness campaigns.

    He called for the support of the states, local governments,  law enforcement and security agencies in ensuring that boat operators adhered strictly to safety guidelines as stipulated by NIWA regulations.

    Speaking in the same vein, Sambo, the NIWA  Lagos Area Manager, blamed boat mishaps on speeding, overloading, wrecks, night journey and disregard for safety rules by operators.

    He expressed the need for a greater collaboration among stakeholders in the sector, saying that current use of life jackets, adherence to safety rules and proper regulation of activities would help.

    On its part, the Lagos State Government said it would continue to clamp down on illegal jetties and unregistered boats to stem the tide of mishaps on waterways in the state.

    The Managing Director of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, who stated this, said that strict enforcement  of relevant laws would be enforced across the state.

    “Government would stop at nothing to ensure that operators adhere to the safety standards.

    “Being a developing sector, one of the things LASWA has to do is to be very strict on enforcement. Enforcement is  going to be an ongoing thing because you would constantly have those who are going to default,” he said.

    According to him, the state government has been working round-the-clock to improve the sector for optimal performance and will not relent.

    “The core objective of LASWA is to ensure that safety, being a key feature of water transportation is not compromised,” Emmanuel said.

    Also speaking on the development, Mr Tarzan Balogun, National President, Association of Tourist Boat Operators Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), observed that mishaps on Waterways had reduced drastically in the country.

    He attributed the development to the concerted efforts of the regulators and operators whom he said, had been insisting on proper use of life jackets by passengers.

    The  Coordinator of  the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States, Alhaji Sulaiman Muhammad, said that the rescue of boat mishap victims in the zone had always been through combine efforts of stakeholders.

    He identified the stakeholders to include fishermen, local divers, NIWA and  state governments.

    Read also: Boat operators without life jackets risk ban

    Muhammadu Audu, a local diver in Birnin Kebbi, called for enforcement of life jacket on boat passengers to make rescue easy.

    “Most of the passengers do not know how to swim, and when an accident happens, even if you know how to swim you get exhausted before getting out of the river.

    Inga, the  Director-General of the NSEMA , told NAN that marine police, local divers and other  volunteers had been assisting in the rescue of boat mishap victims in Niger.

    He blamed the high casualty recorded within the period on private boat operators whom he said had not been encouraging passengers to put on life jackets.

    “Government has concluded arrangements to purchase life jackets that will be sold to people in the riverine areas at subsidised rates as part of measures to avert such mishaps.

    “No operator will be allowed to carry passengers without protective jackets,” he said.

    Inga said that majority of the boats and canoes operating in the state were owned by individuals, while the State Government had only two boats.

    He said that efforts would be intensified to regulate and monitor activities of operators to reduce avoidable accidents on waterways in the state.

    A boat passenger, Mrs Joy Chimezie, told NAN that mishaps would not stop her and others from traveling by boat.

    Chiemeze, a civil servant resident in Lagos, said that traveling by boat was stress-free and cheap, thereby making it attractive to passengers.

    “I pray never to be a victim of any accident but l urge fellow passengers to use their life jackets properly by fastening them well in case of any eventuality,” She said.

    Another passenger,  Mr Cletus Abhareyi , said that the hectic traffic situation in Lagos would continue to make traveling by water inevitable for him and others.

    NAN