By Ojugbele Omotunde
The Chairman, House Committee on National Inland Waterways Chairman, Hon. Pst. Ojotu Ojema has stated that every effort will be made by the Green Chamber to put an end to the frequent boat accidents on the nation’s waterways.
On Wednesday, November 8, 2023, Ojema provided the guarantee during his remarks at the House Standing Committee on National Inland Waterways’ first meeting, which was held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
According to a statement from his media assistant, Olikita Ekani, the legislator stated that the first meeting marks the official beginning of the committee’s operations.
He mentioned that numerous stories of boat accidents across the nation that claimed many lives have surfaced.
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He promised to address the threats in a comprehensive manner by enacting laws that work and supervising pertinent entities that are within the committee’s jurisdiction.
He also mentioned that the Ministry of Blue Economy and other parastatals falling under its purview would be overseen by the committee.
Under his direction, Ojema promised his colleagues, they would provide the necessary backing to the National Inland rivers Authority (NIWA) and other maritime stakeholders, enabling the agency to make the country’s rivers navigable.
In his contribution to the meeting, Hon. Martins Esin (PDP, Akwa-Ibom) said that the committee is tasked with a great deal of responsibility because NIWA is producing less revenue as an organization.
He pointed out that NIWA is a premier government organization and said the committee ought to discuss revenue creation when it meets with the establishment.
In addition, Hon. Lanre Oladebo (PDP, Osun) stated in his contribution that the committee ought to endeavor to guarantee that pertinent governmental bodies uphold the requirement of wearing life jackets when traveling by water.
