By Thompson Yamput
Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, has constituted a 7-Member Special Committee to review the operations of commercial boat operators in Coastal and Inland Waterways in the country.
This is with a view to addressing incessant boat mishaps across the country, a statement issued in Lokoja by Anastasia Ogbonna, Director, Information public relations of the ministry.
The minister, during a meeting in Abuja, noted that boat mishaps have become a matter of urgent concern, hence the need to proffer solutions to reduce it to the barest minimum.
The Committee has 21 days to reveiw and come up with recommendations and actionable plans that would checkmate the menace.
The Committee has the Managing Director, National Inland Waterways (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji as Chairman.
Other members are: Mr. D. Mobereola, DG-NIMASA, Prof. S. Abiodun; ED-NIOMR, Dr. A.M Sule; ED-NIFFR, Dr. B.D. Olaosebikan; P-FCFFT, Prof. B. Fakinlede;TA-HM-FMMBE and Mr. A. Offie; DD-IWW as Secretary.
The Terms of Reference to guide the Committee include, but not limited to: Review the existing commercial boat transport operations and assess and
boat mishaps and its causative factors, Current boat operations safety & sbecurity compliance; and Existing boat specifications in relation to acceptable standards.
The committee is expected to develop a comprehensive plan to address the findings from the assessment and guarantee safe commercial boat transport operations in Coastal and Inland Waterway.
It should also “develop standard design specification for basic categories of commercial boats for Coastal and Inland Waterway; and
“Consider any other related measures/issues as may be deemed appropriate for safe and viable commercial boat operations in our coastal and Inland waterway transport system that would address incessant boat mishaps.
“The Committee has 21 days to complete the assignment and submit a comprehensive report to the Ministry.” (ephemeralnews.com.ng)
