Lagos- The National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) has urged boat operators and fun seekers on the national inland waterways not to overload their vessels during the festive season.
Mr Bamidele Onimode, the South-West Zonal Coordinator of the agency, gave the warning in Lagos in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to him, mishaps on waterways are products of what the operators and passengers do or what they fail to do.
“Our inland waterways are nationwide and we are into collaboration with private boat owners to ensure maximum safety during these festive seasons and beyond.
“We are at the fore front of campaign against all dangerous activities on the waterways capable of causing mishaps.
“We want to urge boat operators during this period to avoid excesses, overloading and speeding, to ensure safety,’’ Onimode said.
He also said that the agency had been collaborating with the Board of the National Inland Waterways Authority to enhance safety on inland waterways at all times.
The NEMA boss added that the agency was doing well in cushioning the effects of the activities of insurgents in some parts of the country.
“There is always a room for improvement and it is good that we progress in our response to the unfortunate insurgency in the North-East.
“As an agency, we will go back to our drawing board to see where we have identified gaps and brace up the idea on how to improve upon it.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
“As the Internally Displace Persons get more in number, we are to get stronger to respond to their needs,’’ he said.
Onimode also said that NEMA had collaborated with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Road Safety Commission and the Nigeria Police, among others, to realise its mandates.
According to him, the agency is also collaborating with the public and commuters, expressing optimism that such synergy would help the nation to achieve hitch-free New Year.(NAN)