Poised to ensure adequate safety on Lagos waters ways, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has deployed 17 officials of the marine department of the Lagos Area office to properly manage the recently introduced Search and Rescue Centre of the agency.
This is coming as the agency on Tuesday, introduced the SRC a few weeks after activating the navigational aids on the Lagos waters.
Disclosing this in a statement on Saturday, the Lagos Area Manager, NIWA, Sarat Lara Braimah, explained that the deployed officers had been properly trained on how to activate, identify and direct safety ecology towards distressed crafts on the water.
According to her, the officers have been properly trained in basic communication skills.
“To ensure the centre is adequately manned to respond to emergencies, about seventeen staff of the marine department in the Lagos area office, were trained on how to activate, identify and direct safety ecology towards distressed crafts on water”
“The team has also been trained in radio communication skills and how to use same to strategically network with crafts and other national emergency agencies as specified by the International Maritime Organization, whenever a Save Our Soul operational situation arises on water”
Briamah expressed gratitude to the Managing Director, NIWA, George Muoghalu, for approving and setting up the search.
“By this move, the MD has challenged the Lagos area office of NIWA to brace for effective discharge of its mandate to stakeholders and Sundry users of the critical busy Lagos waterways”
Braimah also appealed that the time has come for all hands to be on the deck as safety issues require deep interpretation, implementation and joint execution.
