The Federal Government, via the National Inland Waterways Authority has announced steps toward gradually phasing out wooden boats from Nigeria’s inland waterways.
The PUNCH reported that this decision comes as part of a comprehensive plan aimed at enhancing waterway safety and fostering the growth of water travel in the country.
During an in-depth media interaction in Lagos, NIWA’s Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, elaborated on the Authority’s ongoing efforts and long-term vision to reduce boating accidents and ensure safe travel on the nation’s waterways.
Addressing the editors, Oyebamiji explained that wooden boats currently make up over 90 percent of all watercraft on Nigeria’s inland routes, a significant factor contributing to the high number of accidents.
“Most accidents on the waterways are linked to wooden boats,” he said, emphasizing that many of these operators disregard critical safety rules, such as avoiding nighttime travel, preventing overloading, and mandating the use of life jackets for both passengers and operators.
Oyebamiji mentioned that traveling at night without lights is not only dangerous but also illegal.
“Traveling at night is a criminal offense,” he stressed. “Most of them have no light at all. Overloading is also an issue. And the boats are piloted by people of the lowest education in Nigeria,” he explained, underscoring the role of both unregulated operations and limited operator education in these ongoing safety challenges.
To address the immediate issues, NIWA has strategically expanded its workforce, boosting the number of marshals stationed at jetties nationwide from 80 to 350.
Oyebamiji noted that marshals are now stationed on shifts, with at least two officers at each jetty at all times, monitoring activities in both morning and evening hours to ensure compliance with safety standards.
Additionally, the Authority has launched an extensive safety awareness campaign that extends beyond the jetties, reaching out to communities through both mass media and localized efforts.
Oyebamiji stressed that this initiative includes communication in both English and local languages, focusing on critical safety practices such as avoiding night travel, refraining from overloading, and always using life jackets.
While these measures represent a significant short-term intervention, Oyebamiji emphasized that NIWA’s ultimate objective is to replace wooden boats with safer alternatives.
To achieve this, the Authority is working closely with the Presidency and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to coordinate a nationwide transition away from wooden boats.
In addition to these efforts, NIWA plans to deploy more patrol boats to monitor compliance with the NIWA Code, with the Nigerian Navy providing additional support to enforce regulations.
Oyebamiji remarked on the need for a shift in perspective among waterway users, cautioning against a reliance on “God” as a sole protector in matters of safety.
“A lot of people bring God into this matter of safety on waterways when we are the problems ourselves. Our characters and our behaviors are the great determinants here,” he explained, underscoring the role of human responsibility in safety outcomes.
NIWA is committed to educating and enforcing regulations through sanctions where necessary, pushing towards a future with zero fatalities on Nigeria’s waterways.
“There is so much we would have had to do in this regard while we hope that all stakeholders will start playing by the rules,” he concluded, signaling the Authority’s dedication to achieving lasting safety reforms.
