NIWA reveals ongoing plans for video surveillance of Nigerian waters

By Hauwa Ali

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) Dr. George Moghalu has disclosed that the agency will soon commence video surveillance of the country’s waterways to ensure safe and secure inland water operations.

Moghalu disclosed this in an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, during the weekend.

According to Moghalu, plans are ongoing for the installation of cameras on the inland waterways, adding that there’s need for synergy to collaboration with maritime agencies who have an existing surveillance system.


‘’We await the invitation of a South African maritime company. We are satisfied with what they can do for us because they have it over there as a way of monitoring their inland waterways 24/7 and we are giving it serious consideration. They have come here and have done some assessment.” Moghalu said.


“There is a need for synergy, there is a need for us to come together for one, it is cost effective and at the same time we link up all these systems and we would explore it to the full.” He added.

Moghalu also spoke on the recent boat mishaps, saying that the figures peddled in many news reports as to the number of dead persons from the said incidents were untrue.

He explained that in the incident at Niger State, all except one person were rescued by the Agency’s rescue team which worked hand in hand with locals on ground following the boat mishap,

According to him, only one person died contrary to the 50 persons reported by the media, adding that the Agency will begin to make public reports of its investigations to ensure appropriate representation.


Moghalu added that NIWA has found that boat mishaps in Nigeria have followed patterns which resulted from flouting laid down regulations for boating activities which include the prohibition of night travels especially.

He said the Agency had clearly banned trips by water before 6am and after 7pm but that some operators being adamant engage in trips at those unapproved timebelts.

He said the absence of navigational lights on those boats make it risky for the operators to attempt any voyage before or after the approved time belt.


Moghalu stated that NIWA has taken safety sensitisation for boat operators to rural communities where such incidents have mostly occurred and is in addition engaging those communities through the radio.

Listing other efforts of the Agency, he disclosed that the Agency is charting the waters, locally producing its charts, regularly engaging in maintenance dredging and wreck removal to ensure safe waters.

“I am glad to say that we produce our charts locally unlike before that we had to take them overseas, as we speak we are clearing two of our hydrographic boats and it may interest you to know that there was collaboration between NIWA and the hydrographic office of the Nigerian Navy.

“In fact, there is a project we are doing right now, we have finished phase one, remaining phase two and that is the sea link project, the survey works from the upper Benue down to Niger. I am very happy to say that the collaboration between us and the Navy has been quite fruitful.” He said.


Moghalu also said NIWA is working with barge operators to have a comprehensive insurance cover for both barges and cargoes on Nigeria’s waterways.

According to him, an improved quality insurance cover for vessels is a prime project the agency is fully committed to in its bids to decongest the nation’s ports and reducing pressure on Nigerian roads.

“We are looking at having quality insurance to cover both the barges and the cargoes. This was some of the issues raised by the importers, because they do not want a situation where they would gamble with their goods to bring their goods from China and Europe and then getting to lose it on the Nigerian waterways.” He said.