By Innocent Orok
The Federal government of Nigeria has officially gazetted the Inland Waterways Transportation Regulations 2023, otherwise known as Inland Waterways Transportation Code.
The new code was approved by the former Minister of Transportation, Mauzu Jaji Sambo and gazetted on 27th January 2023.
The code published in a booklet contains all the needed information, rules, regulations and guidelines to promote, regulate, improve and safeguard all stakeholders doing businesses in Nigerian waterways.
The code takes particular interest in regulating activities of operators, especially boat captains, boat owners, Skippers, passengers and other investors in the Nigerian inland waterways ecosystem.
Most importantly, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) which is the implementing authority have been given enough powers to presecute and sanction offenders of the new regulation code.
With the launching of the code few months ago by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, the NIWA
Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji and other stakeholders, NIWA Area Managers across the country have been mandated to carryout sensitisation campaign to educate boat captains, operators, passengers and stakeholders to adhere to the new code to avoid being a victim of the law.
At the Lagos Area Office of NIWA which serves as the hub of Waterways Transportation activities in Nigeria, the pragmatic and hardworking Area Manager, Engr.(Dr) Sarat Braimah kick -started the enlightenment campaign by presenting the book containing the code to jetty owners, boat captains and passengers.
The serious sensitisation campaign took the NIWA team , journalists , NIWA Marshalls, Nigeria Police ( NIWA Police) Maritime Workers Union, Waterways Transportation association members among others to different jetties starting from the Lagos Marina jetty, Lagos Boat Club, Lekki jetties, Ebute ero, LASWA, Falamo, Liverpool among others. The campaign is covering all jetties in Lagos .
In all the places visited, the NIWA officials led by the Area Manager, Engr. Sarat Braimah educates the stakeholders of the content of the code , especially violations and their penalties. Copies of the code were presented to operators free of charge.
SOME PROVISIONS OF THE CODE AND PENALTIES:
Under Provisions Relating to Offences and Penalties on the waterways-General Provisions:
• MANNING VIOLATIONS: Vessels not more than 15 GRT- N5,000 per person. Vessels above 15 GRT, but less than 50 GRT- N15,000 per person. Vessel above 50 GRT- N50,000.
• VIGILANCE AND GOOD NAVIGATIONAL PRACTICE VIOLATION: N50,000.
• OBSTRUCTION OF NAVIGABLE WATERWAYS AND DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT: N20,000.
• VIOLATION OF THE USE OF WATERWAYS: N30,000.
• OVERLOADING: Up to 50GRT- N20,000 and above 50GRT- N50,000.
• UNDERAGE BOAT MASTER: N10,000 and withdrawal of operational permit of the affected vessel on subsequent offence.
• FAILURE TO PRODUCE VALID DOCUMENT ONBOARD: N10,000 and detention of Craft untill valid document is produced.
• FAILURE TO PRODUCE A COPY OF APPLICABLE NAVIGATIONAL REGULATIONS ONBOARD: N5,000.
• CARRYING DANGEROUS OBJECTS WHICH CONSTITUTE DANGER TO PERSONS, VESSELS, INSTALLATIONS OF ANY KIND AND ENVIRONMENT ON OR ADJACENT TO THE WATERWAYS: N50,000 and in addition, offender shall be liable to pay any expenses incurred in the inspection and repair of any damage caused by such offence.
•TAMPERING OR REMOVAL OF WATERWAYS SIGNS AND MARKINGS OR RENDERING THEM UNFIT FOR USE: N20,000 and in addition, shall pay any expenses incurred in inspection and repair of any damage caused by such offence.
• DAMAGE OR DESTRUCTION OF PERMANENT STRUCTURES ALONG THE WATERWAYS: N20,000 and in addition , shall pay any expenses incurred in the inspection and repair of any damage caused by such offence.
DUMPING OF REFUSE , SOLID WASTE AND OTHER MATERIAL IN OR ALONG THE WATERWAYS: N20,000 for individual, N200,000 for vessel and corporate body and in addition , shall pay any expenses incurred in the inspection and repair of any damage caused by such offence.
DISCHARGE OF TOXIC AND HAZARDOUS OR MIXED OF SUCH WASTE INTO WATERWAYS: Same as as Dumping of Refuse —– above.
FAILURE TO CARRY VALID SHIP PAPERS: N10,000 and detention of Craft untill valid documents are produced.
LIFE SAVING APPLIANCES (LSA) VIOLATION: N10,000.
To be Continued.
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