NEMA cautions boat operators on overloading

National Emer­gency Manage­ment Author­ity (NEMA) has urged boat operators and fun seekers on the nation’s waterways not to overload their vessels during the festive season.
The South-West Zonal Co­ordinator of the agency, Mr. Bamidele Onimode, gave the warning in Lagos in an inter­view with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Mishaps on waterways, he said, were products of what the operators and passengers did or what they failed 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 forefront 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 the agency had been collaborating with the Board of 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.
“As the Internally Dis­place Persons get more in number, we are to get stronger to respond to their needs,’’ he said.
Onimode also said NEMA had collaborated with the Ni­geria Security and Civil De­fence Corps (NSCDC), the Federal Road Safety Com­mission (FRSC) and the Ni­geria Police, among others to realise its mandates.
The agency was also col­laborating with the public and commuters, expressing optimism that such syn­ergy would help the nation to achieve hitch-free New Year.