PIND Partners Navy, NIWA to Strengthen Waterways Safety in Niger Delta
The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has joined forces with the Nigerian Navy and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to raise safety standards and improve operational oversight across the region’s waterways.
The intervention is designed to strengthen marine transport practices, enhance emergency response and accountability, and promote safer navigation, as development activities increasingly rely on water transport to reach remote riverine communities.
PIND noted that unlike road transportation, where operators can be directly regulated, marine transport depends heavily on third-party boat operators. This exposes commuters and development workers to risks arising from poor safety compliance, inadequate emergency preparedness, and limited accountability.
To address these challenges, PIND convened a two-day boat safety, security, and risk management training in Warri, bringing together boat operators and jetty personnel from Delta, Bayelsa, and Ondo States. The programme marked a shift from reactive measures to a proactive, system-level approach that tackles risks at their source by building the capacity of those directly responsible for marine operations.
Executive Director of PIND, Sam Ogbemi Daibo, represented by Security Manager Abdulfatai Mohammed, said the initiative is aimed at protecting both operators and the communities they serve. Strengthening the skills, awareness, and accountability of boat operators, he explained, is critical to addressing one of the most significant risk points in riverine operations.
By enhancing operator competence and standardising safety practices, Daibo said the intervention is expected to reduce marine incidents, improve emergency outcomes, and raise overall safety on waterways used by development actors and local communities.
Beyond the training, PIND will continue to engage operators through structured follow-up, monitor compliance with safety standards, and integrate key requirements into vendor management processes. This, Daibo noted, ensures the effort becomes part of a broader system for safer marine operations, rather than a one-off activity.
He added that the initiative underlines PIND’s commitment to strengthening duty of care, improving operational safety, and supporting more reliable access to communities across the Niger Delta. By working with national institutions and local operators, the organisation is contributing to safer waterways, where reduced risk translates directly into protected lives and more effective development delivery.
The training combined technical sessions, practical demonstrations, and simulation exercises covering marine safety protocols, emergency response, navigation risks, maritime security awareness, and incident reporting. Participants also received instruction on professional conduct and conflict sensitivity, reinforcing the role of safe and responsible engagement within riverine communities.
Facilitators from the Nigerian Navy and NIWA delivered expert guidance aligned with national maritime safety standards, ensuring that participants gained credible, context-specific knowledge grounded in real-world operational conditions.
The Area Manager of NIWA’s Warri Office, Rufus Ogbonlato, stressed the importance of standardising operational practices among boat operators to improve safety outcomes and protect lives.
“Regular training and adherence to safety procedures are essential to reducing marine accidents. We commend PIND for creating a platform that promotes professionalism and responsible marine transport operations,” Ogbonlato said.
Commander Samuel Ateru, Base Administrative Officer of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, also commended the initiative, stating that improved safety awareness and compliance among operators are critical to reducing avoidable incidents on inland waterways.
“Safety on the waterways is a shared responsibility. Trainings like this strengthen preparedness, improve operational discipline, and support safer navigation across riverine communities,” Ateru stated.