MWUN Applauds Oyetola’s Move To Phase Out Wooden Boats, Suggests Stricter Sanctions For Reckless Operators
MWUN Applauds Oyetola’s Move To Phase Out Wooden Boats, Suggests Stricter Sanctions For Reckless Operators
By Jerry Aguigbo
The Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has applauded
the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Honourable Adegboyega Oyetola, for his recent pronouncement on the banning of Wooden boats operating on Nigerian Waterways; given the incessant accidents claiming the lives of passengers in their numbers annually.
The Minister who was very furious on the matter cited negligence, carelessness and lack of knowledge, disobeying safety regulations as stipulated by the federal government of Nigeria.
The government through its safety regulating agencies had severally cautioned boat drivers and passengers as it were, to stop engaging in water transportation once it’s 1800hrs; while stipulating that all passengers on board any boat must put on lifebuoy while drivers must not overload their boats. This very simple but strict safety regulations have always been flouted by boat drivers and passengers as well, which has been the bane of safety on the country’s Waterways transportation as both drivers and passengers do not obey the regulations.
MWUN PG, Bunu Abi said the Minister’s action was prompt to curb this incessant death of persons resulting from insensibility, as both boat drivers and passengers do not comply on the safety measures while traveling along the Waterways. He pointed out that these unnecessary deaths could have been avoided if safety regulations were being duly observed.
The Maritime Workers’ Union PG, further explained that water transportation would have been the safest, fastest and most enjoyable means of transportation within our Waterways, to avoiding cumbersome road traffic, if all the precautionary measures were been adhered to, adding that in this case, the country has so far witnessed bunch of reckless and unlawful boat operators and drivers, who have constantly refused to obey laws, causing pain to the families of those passengers, who lost their lives to night travels, without wearing life jackets while on board.
According to him, this mentality of ignoring simple safety rules has blindfolded the boat drivers in all ramifications, and has prompted the severe actions of the Minister to curb this ongoing menace on our Waterways. “It’s a lesson for boat owners, drivers and passengers. Most of these boats being used by the Operators are in tatters, rickety and not suited for operation.”
Comrade Bunu also urged the federal government to seek a lasting solution towards the menace of boat drivers not just the Wooden Category alone but as it affects the
Fibre Boats too, who engage in excessive speed and are also part of the damage on our Waterways. All these anomalies by drivers and Operators must be properly put into check by regulators, where any erring driver is caught, the boat owner and the driver should be sanctioned accordingly if the country must ensure decent and safe water transportation.
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