The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) is taking steps to phase out wooden boats on Nigeria’s inland waterways to improve safety and reduce accidents. Bola Oyebamiji, NIWA’s Managing Director, highlighted the decision during a recent interactive session with editors in Lagos, where safety and waterway expansion were discussed.
Wooden boats currently make up over 90% of vessels on Nigeria’s waterways and account for the majority of accidents due to night travel, overloading, and lack of life jackets for passengers. Oyebamiji noted that the majority of operators fail to adhere to operational rules, adding, “Travelling at night is a criminal offense. Most of them have no lights at all, and overloading is also an issue.”
In the short term, NIWA has increased its Marshals from 80 to 350, with at least two marshals present at jetties daily, performing both morning and night shifts. The agency is also conducting rigorous safety campaigns at jetties and through the media in English and local languages to educate operators and passengers about safety practices.
NIWA’s long-term goal is to phase out wooden boats entirely. The agency is collaborating with the Presidency and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, led by Minister Adegboyega Oyetola, to facilitate the nationwide replacement of these boats. More patrol boats will also be deployed, with assistance from the Nigerian Navy, to enforce compliance with NIWA’s Code of Conduct.
Emphasizing the need for behavioral change, Oyebamiji remarked, “Our characters and behaviors are the great determinants here. We will continue to push by applying education, enlightenment, and sanctions, where needed, until we have zero fatalities on our waterways.”
