Saturday, November 9THE LEGISLATURE

Reps Urge NIWA to Set Standards for Boat Construction, Licensing

…Task NEMA, Navy, others on recovery of 200 persons missing over boat mishap in Niger State

The House of Representatives has urged the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to set standards for boat construction, licensing boat builders, and conducting annual inspections to ensure seaworthiness.

Hon. Joshua Audu Gana, representing of Lavon/Mokwa/Edati Federal Constituency of Niger State.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Hon. Joshua Audu Gana, Representative of Lavon/Mokwa/Edati Federal Constituency of Niger State.

Presenting the motion on the floor of the House in Abuja on Tuesday Gana said no fewer than 80 bodies had been recovered—74 dead, six alive, and 200 still missing—in the boat accident that occurred on October 22 in the Niger River of the Jebba Dam.

He noted that the victims were mostly women and children on board in a wooden vessel that capsized in Mokwa, adding that the boat was locally made with a capacity of 100 passengers.

He, however, said that the boat carried about 300 people on board when it overturned in Mokwa.

He said that this would be the second such major disaster in Niger in 18 months after more than 100 people were killed in another boat accident.

Gana said that most of the boat disasters in Nigeria in recent years increasingly point to regulatory failures and were often attributed to overloading, poorly maintained boats.

Adopting the motion. The House urged NIWA to step up enforcement and establish training centres across the country to educate boat operators.

The House also urged the Nigerian Navy to be in charge of its policing of water mandate as Coastal Guard on Nigerian Waters, Coastal and International Waters, to set up a command in the River Niger flank of Niger state.

The House also urged HYPERDEC and NIWA to ensure procurement of life jackets and floaters for all water passengers and enforcement conditions on all waterways operators.

The Green Chamber urged the National Emergency Management Agency to give humanitarian aid and relief materials to the bereaved families in Niger and Kwara States.

The House further mandated the committees on Inland Waterways and Legislative Compliance to ensure implementation.

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