By Steve Agbota
With increased patronage of water transportation across Nigeria, boat mishaps have become disturbingly frequent, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives annually and posing a grave threat to the government’s vision of fully harnessing the waterways for public transport.
The menace of recurring accidents on the nation’s inland waterways has been described as one of the toughest challenges facing the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, one that has defied successive administrations despite numerous interventions.
In response, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, inaugurated a committee chaired by the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, to propose lasting solutions. However, independent investigations, particularly in Niger State, one of the hardest-hit regions, have exposed deep-rooted causes of the mishaps.
Local accounts point to poorly marked waterways, minimal use of life jackets, absence of boat certification, weak jetty infrastructure, night voyages, cultural beliefs and rampant overloading as major culprits. Boats often carry passengers alongside cattle, machinery, foodstuff, and vehicles, threatening safety.
Stakeholders argue that these tragedies are largely preventable. They advocate robust enforcement of maritime safety regulations, including compulsory use of life jackets, accurate passenger manifests, strict load limits, certified crews, and regular inspections by authorities.
Stakeholders’ push for enforcement, accountability
The Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, expressed frustration over the recurrent disasters.
“We cannot continue to watch our people die in accidents that could have been avoided. The government must not only issue safety directives but must ensure strict enforcement and prosecute anyone who violates these laws,” he declared.
The monarch likened unsafe boating practices to overloaded road vehicles, insisting that enforcement must be practical, not symbolic.
“Every passenger should be provided with a life jacket and compelled to wear it before departure. Our focus must shift from condolence after disaster to prevention before disaster,” he stressed.
He further called for the deployment of trained safety officers at jetties, as well as community involvement, noting that many transport activities take place in rural areas beyond the government’s daily reach.
Niger State seeks smarter, safer boats
The Deputy Governor of Niger State, Yakubu Garba, urged the Federal Government to extend private-sector-style partnerships in aviation, rail, and road to water transport.
“Adequate routes and fibre boats in our waterways will go a long way in addressing the challenges we face,” he said.
He also dismissed cultural superstitions as barriers to safety.
“Are we saying our ancestors caused mishaps or should have saved us from capsizing? In the 21st century, we should be talking about technology, not superstition,” he remarked.
On policy, Garba lamented that implementation remains the Achilles’ heel of Nigeria’s safety laws.
“Our policies are often louder than our actions. Nigerian policy documents are among the best in the world, but the challenge lies in implementation,” he added.
The Commissioner for Transport, Hadiza Idris Kuta, noted that recent accidents were caused by poorly trained captains and submerged obstacles. She revealed that the state is phasing out wooden boats, introducing fibre alternatives, deploying safety marshals, and collaborating with NIWA to sensitise riverine communities.
Kuta also acknowledged that cost is a barrier to registration and compliance.
“Everything marine is very expensive, so many locals cut corners and operate illegally. If the government can support them with schemes to purchase fibre boats, wooden boats can be phased out without cutting communities off,” she said.
She added that the state will begin strict enforcement, including the arrest and prosecution of violators of NIWA codes.
Local government efforts
The Chairman of Munya Local Government Area, Aminu Najume, stressed the need for consistent sensitisation, enforcement, and better infrastructure.
Citing a recent mishap, he said: “Those who wore life jackets survived, but those who didn’t perished. Unfortunately, people in rural areas often prioritise goods over safety.”
Najume revealed that his council has created a social department with five desk officers dedicated to educating riverine residents. He also appealed for the provision of ferries as safer alternatives to canoes and wooden boats.
“A ferry will reduce risks, generate revenue, and allow continuous safety enforcement at boarding points,” he argued.
NIWA speaks
According to the NIWA Niger/Kwara Area Manager, Akapo Adeboye, overloading, overspeeding, cultural attitudes, and night travel remain the biggest risks.
“Now, no life jacket, no entry into the boat. We have started enforcing the 2023 Inland Waterways Transportation Code. No life jacket, no travel. No overloading. No overspeeding. And if you travel after 6 pm, you will be arrested and prosecuted,” he warned.
Adeboye disclosed that NIWA has begun marking navigational routes with buoys and conducting sensitisation campaigns in local languages. He emphasised the need for community cooperation in changing entrenched attitudes.
Next level
Despite interventions, lapses in enforcement, economic constraints, and cultural barriers continue to hamper safety on Nigeria’s waterways. However, with renewed government resolve, traditional rulers’ advocacy, and NIWA’s new enforcement measures, there is cautious optimism that preventable tragedies on inland waterways can finally be curbed.
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