House Commits To Adressing Boat Mishaps

By Oduyemi Odumade

The House of Representatives Committee on Inland Waterways says effective oversight of relevant agencies of government and adequate legislations, will address the root causes of boat mishaps.

Chairman of the House Committee, Mr. Ojema Ojotu who said this at the Inaugural meeting of the House in Abuja
noted that there had been several reports of deaths resulting from boat mishaps in the country.

The Lawmaker also stated that the House Committee is to perform oversight functions of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and its parastatals.

Also speaking, Martins Esin from Akwa-Ibom State explained that the responsibility placed on the committee is enormous due to the dwindling revenue generation of NIWA as an agency.

He noted that NIWA is a foremost revenue government agency adding that revenue generation should be taken up by the committee in its meeting with the agency.

Also in his contribution, Lanre Oladebo from Osun State said that the House Committee should work towards ensuring that relevant government agencies enforce the use of life jackets in water transportation.

The Committee Chairman, Ojema however assured members of the committee that under his leadership they will give NIWA and other marine stakeholders the needed support so that the agency can make the nation’s waterways navigable.

Edited By Grace Namiji