Life Jackets Remain Best Safety Measures on Waterways- NIWA Boss

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), as part of its ongoing efforts to ensure adequate protection of lives along the nation’s waterways, has donated Life Jackets worth millions of naira to boat operators within its coverage areas for the safety of their passengers, insisting that it is still the best option within the maritime space.

NIWA Managing Director, Chief (Dr) George Moghalu, expressed delight at the start of the Life Jackets distribution to boat operators at the NIWA office in Warri, Delta state, as part of the organization’s commitment to ensure the protection of lives and property throughout the nation’s waterways.

The Warri Area Office Manager, Engr. Mohammed Dangana, who represented the MD at the event and presented the Life Jackets to the leadership of the various Maritime Unions in attendance, described the donation as part of NIWA’s responsibility to lead by example in ensuring safety measures on waterways.

“The objective of the Inland Canals is to ensure that navigation on the waterways system is available all year round, and the Managing Director is very enthusiastic about safety,” he says.

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“Last year, we ran a safety awareness campaign, and we felt we needed to provide life jackets to operators as part of our corporate social responsibilities,” said the company (CSR)

“We had some consignments on the supply of life jackets which we distributed through the Maritime Union leadership because we decided to reach out to as many operators as possible in this first phase of the distribution exercise. We hope to commence the second phase soonest. The entire idea is to make it a continuous exercise”.

“And that is what we are doing and want to let the world know what we are doing in ensuring the safety on the waterways.”

“Essentially, every boat should have life jackets Every boat operator should provide life jackets in their boat. And because we are in the lead of safety on the waterways that’s why we have decided to take this initiatives as part of our advocacy to lead by example.”

“It is the expectation of NIWA that the operators should align with the safety mantra by ensuring as they are moving from points A to B they must ensure that everyone on the boat is wearing a life jacket as a way of guaranteeing their safety while on board.

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