Maritime Agencies
BOAT MISHAPS: Training Key To Overcoming the Menace, NIWA Insists
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Saturday, March 9, 2024, the Lagos Area Office of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) mobilized what an industry watcher has described as the highest number, in recent times, of boat captains and deck hands invited to join hands with the waterways regulator to deliberate and fashion out how best to address a nagging matter: frequent boat mishaps. The well-attended gathering was for operators from Zone A comprising Badagry, Tincan and Ijegun area.
It was a no-holds- barred engagement. Boat operators – irrespective of status – were offered unfettered opportunity devoid of any encumbrances to air their views on the issue of safety at sea. Boat drivers and deck hands who ordinarily would feel shy saying the truth in the presence of their bosses and the regulator were encouraged to speak out while their employers were urged to freely accommodate candid views from their subordinates for the sole purpose of achieving safety on the inland waterways, going forward.
In his opening remarks, NIWA Managing Director, Hon Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji represented by the Manager, Lagos Area Office, Engr (Dr) Sarat Braimah, urged all present to see the day’s engagement as a free thing designed to take a serious look at reasons boat mishaps persist on Lagos waters despite all measures the agency has put in place to curtail or even eradicate it. Have people been failing in roles they play or are supposed to play to curb the menace? What are the problems of captains, deck hands, passengers, government regulators and any other stakeholder? How are these to be realistically tackled to collectively offer a reliable platform to address incidents of boat mishaps in the Lagos area? Are there things the regular is yet to do to solve this nagging issue? Are there fresh ideas and suggestions that can help out?
For captains, Engr Braimah reeled out a number of competencies and skills they must not do without. Prominent among these is proficiency in swimming. How many of them can swim during emergencies? She requested those among this group who cannot swim to willingly show up to be trained by NIWA since they are the first line of help to passengers should there be a boat mishap.
“Today is not a day to blame anybody but a time to open up on reasons for frequent boat accidents.”
To her, training for all category of boat handlers remains a constant factor that must never be overlooked because it exposes the trainee to all rudiments, activities and processes he must be familiar with to ensure safety of all on a boat.
Last two incidents in Banana Island, Lagos, she explained, were caused by captains who left the channel and drove to the shore. The second incident occurred because the captain of the boat involved in was struggling with another boat in a speed competition. Speed competition on water? For what purpose?
“Training, training, training is compulsory. I know it’s difficult to get money in Nigeria today. But you must suffer yourself and struggle to pay to get training. Please starve yourself to get trained. If you don’t have your boat captain’s licence, you can’t be on the waterways.”
She emphasized that training would have exposed the boat captains to know when and how to move to the shore or the implications of boats competing for speed especially in a marine environment fraught with uncertainties.
Among their complaints, the boat drivers complained of meagre payments that cannot sustain them.
They requested NIWA to reduce the fees for training to enable them afford it. Reacting, Engr Braimah encouraged them to imbibe the habit of saving to raise the money, realizing the implications of not getting trained on their job.
“You can’t sit down in your house and learn”.
Corroborating Engr Braimah’s stand, Saka Stephen, a boat captain, confirmed that training is very important as it offers needed skills in navigation, weather reading, how to mount ropes, among other skills. Training, Stephen emphasized, cannot be compromised.
In his intervention, Comrade Friday Essien appealed to NIWA to streamline the cost of her licence with the one from NIMASA which, he stated, is cheaper.
Prominent among causes of boat mishaps, the operators said, is the physical condition and old age of boats. There are those of fibre, wood and others with holes which continuously battle with uncertainties which include water streaming in during voyage.
There is also the presence of wrecks majorly caused by people who throw all kinds of junks into the water. In most cases, these wrecks are not visible and cannot be sighted by captains and drivers. They appealed that these be identified and promptly removed as boats don’t have what it takes to detect or remove them from the channel.
Exchanging views with the press after the well-attended event, Engr Braimah advised captains and boat drivers to always cool down to know the rights and wrongson the waterways.
We have told them that they should not sail at night.
“Actually, I can say that 80% of night sailing is not in Lagos. We have told them why they should let us have information whenever they see any wrecks on the waterways so that these can be removed immediately. Some of these wrecks are caused by dredgers. We know all dredgers on the inland waterways. We will call to tell them what to do with the wrecks.”
Speaking on boat seaworthiness, she announced that henceforth, NIWA intensify quarterly inspections to ensure boats are seaworthy.
“Before now, all Ikorodu boats have been inspected. The ones qualified for now are allowed to sail; those not qualified will not be allowed until they are refurbished. We are working with the Marine Police.”
Lately, maritime stakeholders have urged the Federal Government to consider offering loans to boat operators from the CVFF to enable them procure new boats and make repayments installmentally.
Aligning with this view, the Area Manager observed that most boats in use now are old even as most boat owners do not have the funds to buy new ones.
“Government has to come in maybe through forming cooperatives, to concretize arrangements so that it will not be easy to evade repayment if such loans are secured. To get a good boat is nothing less than N70K or N80 million, “she explained.
Braimah also reiterated the importance of lifebuoys which 6 or more passengers can hold on to so as to remain stable and avoid panic during an emergency.
To check overspeeding, NIWA has also instructed that speedometers be installed on boats at least for passengers to know when overspeeding is taking place.
Concerning cost of training, splitting the sum into 30 – 30% initial instalment payment and completing it before collecting the certificate gives a trainee a soft landing.
“I believe in training because there’s nothing you can learn or do even in the corridor of your house without experience acquired through training. How do you not have a licence and you want to drive a boat? It’s like being a doctor without going to school. Training is key; that’s what I have been telling the associations that it is better we work together and help ourselves.”
“They can’t be saying that N80,000 is too big for training. It’s not like they’re doing this training every year. It’s for three years. This money is paid once in three years.
NIWA, she stated, has zoned patrols to Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry axis.
“When they know that NIWA patrol is coming, they (boat drivers) will take caution. It’s just like Police being on the road. We have the personnel and that’s why we put ourselves in groups. For instance, in the Lagos Area Office, we’re almost 50 staff plus the Marine Police and the Joint Task Force (JTF).
In his submission earlier, Emmanuel Prowess, a trainer and Licenced Life Guard at Landmark Beach took time to dwell on the importance of life jacket. He urged captains, deck hands and drivers to always check and wear their life jackets while on water.
“Develop the habit of putting your life jacket on before asking passengers to do same. Have excess for passengers and always wash and clean them. To earn the commitment and good conduct of boat drivers, captains and boat owners must provide reasonable incentives to make them happy.”
Concerning boat inspection survey, it is mandatory, the trainer said, that captains inspect and ascertain the readiness of boat engines before navigation. Driving at a cautious speed, he said, enables the boat overcome waves and other natural occurrences.
Passenger loading must not exceed the specific number approved for the boat.
On rescue operation, he said the captain who must possess sound swimming experience should take the lead.
“Knowledge is important. Knowing how to swim places him (the captain) in a position to secure himself and be able to save the passengers.
“When your boat begins to take in water, take it towards the shore. At the jetty, your engine must be on stand-by.
Speed control is very important. An old engine cannot run at its maximum speed: the younger, the faster and better.”
He explained that captains must be conversant with the geography of their areas of operation so as not to infringe on the rights of fishermen and others that maritime laws permit to ply their trade on water. Their fishing nets must not be unduly tampered with. Similarly, dredgers and their equipments have rights that must not be violated.
When approaching a jetty, Emmanuel Prowess counselled, captains must not allow passengers disembark immediately until he secures and anchors the vessel. Before take-off too, all passengers must be secure and settled in the boat. Passenger manifest is a must.
Engr Sarat Braimah implored captains and boat drivers to promptly report to NIWA the presence of wrecks, dredgers, pipes,etc on the channel for necessary action. She distributed dedicated phone numbers for this purpose.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
In the ongoing efforts to thwart economic sabotage in the Niger Delta, Tantita Security Services Ltd, the firm engaged in pipeline surveillance operations in the oil -rich region, has nabbed four suspected oil thieves, intercepting their vessel named MT Thor. Suspects are to undergo trial for economic sabotage .
Speaking at the handover of the suspects at Koko Port, Tantita’s Executive Director of Operations, Capt Warredi Enisouh, said the suspects were apprehended with an unspecified quantity of suspected illegally-sourced petroleum products aboard the vessel.
The interception occurred on 15 December 2025, around the Koko–Excravos axis of Delta State, says a situation report made available by the Special Prosecution Team (SPT) of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Petroleum Product Theft.
The report stated that Tantita alerted the Head of Investigation of the SPT after intercepting MT Thor, allegedly laden with crude oil obtained through illicit means.
It was further alleged that the vessel was being escorted by personnel of the Police Marine Unit, Delta State, who reportedly claimed they were acting on directives from the Force Intelligence Department (FID), Abuja.
Preliminary investigations by law enforcement agencies revealed that the vessel, now classified as an exhibit in an ongoing criminal investigation, is linked to a jetty operated by Ebenco Global Services Limited. Investigation officers disclosed that documents and correspondence connected to the jetty were obtained and are currently under review.
“The owner of the jetty, Mr. Ebenezer, was contacted by investigators and reportedly provided additional documents, including court orders, which are also being analysed as part of the investigation.
“On December 16, a joint investigation team led by the Head of Investigation of the SPT conducted a Joint Inspection Visit in Koko. The team first met at Tantita’s corporate headquarters in Warri for a briefing, which was also attended by the jetty owner.
“During the inspection, investigators attempted to obtain samples from MT Thor but were unable to do so immediately as the vessel had not yet arrived at the jetty, having been towed from an earlier location by security operatives.
“While awaiting the vessel’s arrival, the team inspected other containers suspected to be carrying crude oil within the premises of Ebenco Global Links Limited, where samples were taken from a storage barge.
“MT Thor eventually berthed at about 8:30 p.m. on 16 December, prompting the joint team to adjourn sampling and other procedures until the following day. As of 17 December 2025, investigators were reported to be en route to Koko to continue sample collection and complete investigation formalities,” the report read.
Receiving the suspects, the Head of the Special Prosecution Team of the Inter-Agency Task Force, Omar Sini, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to dismantle crude oil theft networks in the Niger Delta, assuring that all findings would be thoroughly examined and prosecuted in line with the law.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Seven days to the end of 2025, the Tincan Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has comfortably met her revenue target for the year, exceeding same by over N51.8 billion.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Frank Onyeka who stated this in Lagos, Wednesday, announced that the Command generated a total of ₦1.576 trillion in revenue, surpassing its assigned target of ₦1.524 trillion by about ₦51.84 billion.
The performance which he described as remarkable came about following the decision of his officers and men to be on the path of discipline, professionalism and unwavering commitment to trade rules and regulations.
Other enhancers of the achievement, he explained, included the strict implementation of deliberate reforms, improved operational efficiency and a strong sense of collective responsibility.
He said that major contributors to the increased revenue in the year included bulk cargo, general merchandise and imported ‘tokunboh’ vehicles. Strict cargo examination procedures and full compliance with customs regulations ensured accurate assessment and collection of expected revenue.
The Command employed conscious efforts to eliminate revenue leakages and operational inefficiency even as multiple and unnecessary alerts were substantially curtailed by adopting a streamlined alert management and enhanced internal coordination.
“This strategy improved operational efficiency without compromising effective customs control”, the CAC disclosed.
Commending the role of stakeholders engagement in the realization of the annual revenue, Onyeka recalled regular interaction with importers, licensed customs agents, terminal operators and shipping companies.
Diligent enforcement coupled with intelligence-driven operations also resulted in massive seizure of prohibited and undeclared goods.
“These seizures reflect our determination to facilitate trade while safeguarding national security, public safety, and economic integrity”, he remarked.
He assured that the Command is ever ready to sustain and improve on the 2025 revenue performance and compliance enforcement. All revenue due to the federal government will be properly assessed, collected and remitted at all times.
The Tin Can Island Port Customs boss expressed appreciation to the Comptroller General of Customs, Dr. Adewale Adeniyi for his strategic leadership and institutional support, noting that the Command’s success aligns with the Service’s ongoing reform and modernisation agenda.
He also commended stakeholders for their cooperation and commitment to improved compliance and adherence to extant rules.
“As we progress, the Command remains focused on consolidating these gains, deepening transparency, and contributing meaningfully to the federal government’s fiscal objectives”, Onyeka stated.
Customs
NSC Boss, Akutah, Speaks At Maritime Journalists’ Seminar, Harps on Developing Trends the Press Cannot Overlook.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
It has been canvassed that as the maritime industry grows in complexity, driven by digitalization, new trade realities, regulatory reforms and global logistic shifts, journalism practice within the space should toe the same line.
Dr Pius Ukeyima Akutah, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) stated this in a keynote address he delivered in Lagos, Thursday, during the 10th Anniversary Annual Seminar for Maritime Journalists hosted by First Mediacon Network Ltd, publishers of Shipping Position Daily.
Acknowledging that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council has benefitted immensely from the sustained and professional coverage offered by the maritime press, more collaborative efforts is needed to enhance efficiency and competitiveness in the port environment. He was represented by the agency’s Director of Special Duties, Mr Moses Abere.
”This decade-long journey affirms a simple truth: no maritime sector can advance without a strong, knowledgeable and committed media community.” Akutah added.
Strengthening maritime journalism for the future, he noted, requires technical accuracy, understanding of global practices and an appreciation of regulatory frameworks.
The journalist should also be equipped to interrogate data, utilize digital tools and apply emerging technologies such as Al in research, storytelling and analysis.
He added that in a sensitive sector such as maritime, misinformation can undermine policy, investor confidence and national economic stability.
”At the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, we remain committed to open communication and structured engagement with the media to enhance mutual understanding and sectoral development.”
Akutah assured that the NSC would continue to partner with the press through knowledge-sharing, capacity-building collaborations and joint initiatives that support a more informed and capable maritime media landscape.
”As the Port Economic Regulator, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council remains committed to promoting efficiency, transparency and competitiveness within the maritime sector.”
”We consider the media as essential partners in informing stakeholders, shaping public understanding and strengthening accountability.”
”We will continue to support credible and responsible maritime journalism and are open to meaningful engagements that enhance professionalism and knowledge within the press community.”
Dr Akabogu (left) presenting a souvenir to Dr Maiwada, National PRO, Nigeria Customs Service.
As the press celebrates
a 10-year milestone, Akutah advised, there should be a commitment to build a stronger future, one defined by accurate information, robust collaboration and shared progress.
Unveiling the Centre for Maritime Media & Capacity Development at the event, Mr Sesan Onileimo, CEO First Mediacon Network Ltd stressed the need to future-proof maritime reporting in Nigeria. The new Centre, he said, was created to respond to rapid changes reshaping journalism and the maritime sector.
“The maritime media space is evolving rapidly under the pressure of digitalisation, artificial intelligence and social media. This Centre is our bold response to ensure journalists remain knowledgeable, relevant and impactful, regardless of how long they have been on the beat,” Onileimo explained.
The Centre, he added, would not only take over the organisation of the annual seminar but would also deliver continuous, year-round manpower development programmes for maritime journalists and content creators.
“What we are doing is moving from an annual event to a permanent structure for capacity development. The Centre is also open to partnerships with industry stakeholders who share our vision of a stronger and more professional maritime media,” Onileimo added.
Dignitaries at the event included Mr Babandede, ACG Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service accompanied by the National Public Relations Officer, Dr Aliyu Maiwada, notable maritime lawyer Dr Emeka Akabogu (SAN) and Dr Kayode Farinto, former Acting National President of ANLCA.
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