Boat Mishaps Persist Amid Neglected Safety Laws, Old Vessels
Recurring Boat Accidents Alarm Experts
NIGERIA continues to record frequent boat mishaps across its inland waterways, with the latest tragedy occurring on 3 January in Garbi town, Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State, where a passenger canoe capsized on the Yobe River, leaving several dead and missing.
Maritime analyst Mr. Chika Akabogu attributes these incidents to weak enforcement of safety regulations and the continued use of rickety wooden boats. In an interview in Abuja on Sunday, he warned that these accidents are avoidable if safety laws were properly implemented and operators held accountable.
Old, Unsafe Boats Still in Operation
“Most wooden boats currently in use are old, poorly maintained, and structurally weak, making them highly vulnerable to mechanical failures and rough weather,” Akabogu said. He noted that despite public outcry and repeated accidents, many operators continue to use unsafe vessels because inspections are irregular, penalties for violations are minimal, and there is little government pressure to replace substandard boats.
The maritime expert emphasized that the slow adoption of modern boat manufacturing by both state and federal governments has limited access to safer alternatives, forcing operators to rely on outdated wooden crafts.
Calls for Government Action
Akabogu urged the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, to issue decisive directives mandating the immediate phase-out of rickety boats. He stressed that laws without enforcement lose their deterrent effect, allowing operators to place profit above passenger safety.
He also called on the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to strengthen inspection regimes, deploy water marshals nationwide, and actively monitor illegal jetties. “Banning illegal jetties is not enough. Water marshals must be stationed along riverbanks to apprehend and prosecute violators,” Akabogu said.
Community Engagement and Awareness
The expert highlighted the importance of collaborating with riverine communities to raise awareness on the dangers of night travel, unauthorized loading points, and unsafe vessels. “Without community cooperation, enforcement alone cannot prevent accidents,” he said.
The Way Forward
Akabogu concluded that sustained political will, investment in safer boat alternatives like fibre boats, and visible enforcement of regulations are critical to ending preventable waterway accidents. Unless authorities move beyond policy statements to tangible action, Nigeria will continue to witness fatalities and losses on its inland waterways.
As of filing, attempts to reach relevant authorities for official comment on the recent Yobe incident were unsuccessful.
