The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has taken a major step toward improving safety across Niger Delta waterways through a targeted intervention aimed at strengthening marine transport standards and reducing preventable incidents.
As development activities expand across hard-to-reach riverine communities, water transportation has become essential to delivering programs and accessing vulnerable populations. However, unlike road transport systems where safety can be directly controlled, marine operations rely largely on third-party operators, creating critical gaps in safety practices, emergency response, and accountability.
To address this, PIND convened a two-day Boat Safety, Security and Risk Management Training in Warri for boat operators and jetty personnel drawn from Delta, Bayelsa, and Ondo States. The training represents a shift from reactive safety measures to a more proactive, system-level approach — targeting risks at their source by strengthening the capacity of those directly responsible for marine operations.
Speaking on behalf of Mr. Sam Ogbemi Daibo, Executive Director of PIND, Col. Abdulfatai Mohammed (Retired), PIND’s Security Manager, said: “This intervention is about protecting lives — both for those who work on the waterways and the communities we serve. By strengthening the skills, awareness, and accountability of boat operators, we are addressing one of the most critical risk points in riverine operations.”
