By Thompson Yamput
A total of 120 boat operators have been trained in Kano by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), an official has disclosed.
Mr Bola Oyebamiji, NIWA Managing Director (MD), disclosed this in a statement signed by Mr Suleiman Makama, AGM Corporate Affairs on Tuesday in Kano.
According to him, the 120 tranees were the first batch of boat operators to be trained by the authority in Kano.
Oyebamiji said that the training program was in conjunction with the Kano State Ministry of Transportation and was geared toward improving inland waterways transportation.
He said that NIWA was ready to partner with any state government on such training programme toward ensuring safety within the inland waterways.
The MD explained that the training was aimed at availing the trainees with basic knowledge about the vessel or boats and the waterways (way/channel).
He also said that it was meant to educate them on the three-dimensional aspect of the way, such as the depth, width, and the current/velocity of the characteristics of the water.
The NIWA boss disclosed that all safety protocols were taught to the trainees, who, in the end, were issued with life jackets.
He, however, commended the Kano state government for the partnership.
