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ill-fated boat in Niger state on illegal operation—- NIWA 

Bola Oyebamiji, NIWA MD
— deploys more river marshalls on 24-hour surveillance as rescue efforts continue
Funso OLOJO 
More bodies are being recovered from the Gbajibo River, Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State after a wooden boat carrying 300 passengers capsized on Tuesday night of October 1st, 2024.
As of yesterday, the water marshalls of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) with the collaboration of the Nigeria state’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and local divers have recovered 70 bodies, rescued 150 persons while the search for remaining missing passengers was still ongoing.
However, Mrs. Sarat Braimah, the Lagos Area Manager of NIWA has accused the operators of the ill-fated boat of illegal operations as they sailed at 8: 30 pm which was against the water transportation code which has outlawed night sailing.
Mrs. Braimah, who absolved NIWA of complicity in the tragic incident following a public outrage over what was described as the negligence of the Authority, disclosed that the four water marshalls deployed to the Gbajibo River where the incident occurred had already closed from duty for the day and left the jetty at 8 pm while the boat loaded at 8: 30 pm.
The NIWA Area Manager however said the Marshalls went to the other side of the jetty while the ill-fated boat was loading without their knowledge.
Meanwhile, NIWA has attributed the unfortunate incident to flagrant disregard for transportation code by the boat operators such as overloading( the wooden boat carried 300 passengers), use of sub- standard boat which is a wooden carved boat without necessary navigational aids, lack of wearing of safety vests and night sailing which has been banned.
As a result of this incident, Mrs. Braimah disclosed that more water marshalls will be deployed to Niger state and other northern states where night sailing is prevalent for 24-hour surveillance.
“NIWA just constituted river marshalls who were posted to every state and Niger state in particular has 24 water marshalls while in Mokwa Local government Area where the incident happened, they have four Marshalls.” the NIWA Area Manager disclosed.
She lamented the prevalence of night sailing in the North despite its ban which she said was a major challenge for NIWA.
” NIWA will now make it 24-hour surveillance on waterways in that area in order to prevent reoccurrence” stated Mrs Braimah.
According to her, the recently gazetted transportation code launched by NIWA and cascaded to every state contains penalties for infractions of safety standards.
” Last month, NIWA was everywhere on sensitization of the revering public on this code. But, unfortunately, this tragic incident happened.
” From now on, night sailing is our target. We are going to recruit more river marshalls who will be working on 24- 24-hour basis.  This will hopefully deter people and boat operators from night sailing” Mrs Braimah said.
She revealed that all the local wooden boats used in the area are sub-standard and have no navigational aids to sustain night travel.
“NIWA has deployed a modern ferry to Niger state which will be put to use by next week.
Speaking further on the efforts of NIWA to arrest incessant boat mishaps in the North, Mrs. Braimah disclosed that the agency has established training centres in all the states of the Federation, especially in the Northern states where most of the boat operators lack formal education and required training to operate boats.
” At the end of such training which includes safe navigation and done in their local dialect, because most of them are illiterate, NIWA issues them certificates and we also monitor their operations”the NIWA
 Areas Manager stated.
She further revealed that NIWA has a set of standards for boat building.
” We have gone to boat builders to license them and give them specifications on the type of boats they should build,” Mrs Braimah said.
In addition to all these safety measures, Braimah claimed that NIWA has a department that carries out surveys and inspections of boats for seaworthiness, an exercise carried out in January every year.
She also disclosed that the authority collaborates with other sister agencies to ensure the waterways are safe.
According to her, in Niger state where the latest boat mishap happened, NIWA has collaboration with the state’s NEMA while it has with Lagos State Waterways Authority( LASWA).
Gbajibo river in Mokwa Local government Area of Niger state is notorious for boat accidents.
It would be recalled that in September 2023, a similar tragic incident happened when a boat carrying 50 passengers capsized, killing 24 persons who were on their way to their farms for harvest.
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Headlines

May Day: Mobereola salutes maritime workers for passion, dedication to building virile industry 

Gloria Odion,  Maritime reporter 

The Director – General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has saluted the courage , passion and dedication of maritime workers to building strong and virile industry.
In his message at the Workers’ day on May 1st, 2026, the NIMASA DG extolled the virtues of workers and acknowledged the distinguished service of various stakeholders whose efforts he noted continue to significantly contribute to the development of the Nigerian maritime industry.
Dr. Mobereola, while wishing stakeholders a Happy Workers’ Day said “to all the amazing officers and stakeholders in the maritime sector who bring their passion and expertise to work daily.

“Thank you for your dedication and invaluable contributions”.

He emphasized that as a regulator, the Agency remains committed to its oversight function of regulating maritime labour activities in the industry in line with extant instruments and the expectations of the theme of the 2026 Workers’ Day, which focuses on safety, dignity and productivity.

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Customs

Kaila, Seme Customs CAC, seeks collaboration with stakeholders to achieve seemless trade along border corridor 

Funso OLOJO, Editor
The new Area Controller of the Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, has  reached out to traditional rulers and  sister agencies at the border communities to ensure the achievement of his mandate of detection, determent of smuggling, revenue generation and trade facilitation along the border corridor.
To achieve these objectives, Comptroller Kaila went on tour of the communities within the border corridor where he met and sought for the support and cooperation of major critical stakeholders, including the traditional rulers and sister agencies.
According to him, his objective was to eradicate trade hindrances affecting free movement of goods and services along the Lagos-Abidjan business corridor.
Speaking at the Palace of Oba Akran of Badagry Kingdom, the Customs Area Controller condoled with the royal family and entire people of Badagry kingdom on the passing away of HRM De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi I who was a well recognized traditional ruler across the border communities.
“”The purpose of my visit is to introduce myself as the Area Controller of Seme Command and to equally seek your royal blessing and support to achieve the core mandate of the service.
“Our priority remains to generate revenue, facilitate trade, and suppress smuggling.
“And we in the Customs believe that without due support and co-operation from traditional rulers, we can not have effective performance of our functions as Customs officers” he said
 The King Regent, Chief Abel Ogunbiyi, who described Kaila as the son of the soil, added that “We have listened to your request.
” Know that Badagry is a very peaceful town, and we will keep collaborating with you in safeguarding our borders and in promoting legitimate trade, ” he stated.
Comptroller Kaila also visited the Onibereko of Ibereko Awori-Kingdom, where the monarch, Oba Israel Okoya, signifies his commitment to fostering the service relationship with residents living within the border  communities
“I welcome you to Badagry and be rest assured that I will always talk to my people whenever the need is required.
” In our town, our youth does not engage in illegalities as I have no other choice than to assist you in achieving the government mandate, ” he mentioned
While at the Palace of Alapa of Apa Kingdom, the king HRM Oba Oyekan Ajose Ilufemiloye commended and described the CAC, Comptroller Kaila as a professional, seasoned and well respected officer as described by indigenes of border communities.
“I promise you that I will always assist you in my area for anything that you need.
“Our border here has been peaceful because our youth always listen to the elders, and I know with your presence here, things will change for the better, ” he said
In his efforts to consolidate on existing synergy between sister security agencies, Kaila also visited Headquarters of 653 Nigerian Air force base, Ahanve-Badagry.
The  Commanding Officer, Group Captain Hungruy  Medugu,expressed the  readiness of the formation to always support the command in achieving its mandate.
“Our collaboration has been key to various successes we have recorded in our area of responsibility.
” Your presence here strengthens existing bonds of inter-agency collaboration between both Services, and we will not take it for granted ,” he said
The Area Controller then ended his familirisation tour with seeking for mutual cooperation with a visit to the Republic of Benin Police office, showing his readiness to eradicate hindrances affecting the free movement of goods and services across the border.
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Headlines

Opeifa decries encroachment on NRC properties across the country 

— praises collaboration with Abia, Enugu govts.
Funso OLOJO, Editor 
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has reiterated his displeasure over the widespread practice of encroachment on the properties of the Nigerian Railways Corporation across the country, warning that such action would not be tolerated by his administration.
Opeifa was speaking during the separate meetings he recently had with the governments of both Abia and Enugu states.
Represented by the Railway District Manager, Eastern District, Mr. Agwonye Francis Ejike, the NRC boss quickly condemned the occupation of the Corporation’s right- of – way by squatters in Umuahia, while correcting the wrongly- held belief that the Railway is defunct.
Opeifa however applauded the cordial and collaborative relationship between the Corporation and the governments of both Abia and Enugu.
According to him, such productive harmony can only yield even greater positive results for the benefit of the people.
During the Umuahia meeting, Dr. Opeifa strongly praised the Abia State Government for its crucial assistance in clearing the NRC’s right-of-way within Umuahia.
 He reiterated unequivocally that no one is permitted to build any structure on railway property without obtaining express approval from his office.
Appealing directly to the public, he urged for greater patience, stressing that the plans for the critical track extension from Aba, through Umuahia to Enugu and beyond, remain very much on course.
Responding on behalf of the Abia State Government, Mr. Kingsley Agomoh stated that the State Government is actively engaging all stakeholders by providing alternative, seamless locations for those currently conducting business on the railway right-of-way.
 He further revealed that the state government has already finalized plans to plant trees along the route, creating a leisurely and aesthetically conducive environment for relaxation, replacing previous commercial activities.
The high-powered team then embarked on an extensive inspection of the alternative relocation site for displaced persons; the demolition site where iron barrier installation is progressing; the Umuahia Central Bus Terminal; the site for the new Umuahia Railway Station; and the route for the proposed link road passing through the existing railway station.
The meeting also explored the provision of a temporary location for the Railway Police and the PTO, pending the construction of the new Umuahia Station, which is designed to include a police station and other NRC offices.
The same impactful message was delivered to Enugu State, where the Commissioner of Transportation, Dr. Obi Ozoh (representing the State Government), equally assured the NRC MD of the Enugu State Government’s unwavering commitment to collaborating with the Corporation to achieve its aims and objectives.
Describing Dr. Opeifa as a personal friend from their private sector days, Dr. Ozoh lauded him as a leader who “knows perfectly well what he is doing.”
He further assured the NRC that the Enugu State Government will actively assist in demolishing any obstruction on the Corporation’s right-of-way, stressing that the state eagerly awaits the flag-off to recommence construction of the rail line from Aba to Enugu and beyond.
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