Adegboyega Oyetola, the minister of marine and blue economy has urged state governments, particularly those with large riverine populations, to invest in modern boats to curb rampant boat mishaps on Nigeria’s waterways.
The minister, in a recent statement, said this investment will serve for both life-saving and economic importance, arguing that incidents of boat mishaps have persisted largely due to the widespread use of wooden boats.
A recent boat accident in the Shagari LGA of Sokoto State drew new attention to the issue. Eyewitnesses said the boat, carrying multiple passengers, capsized mid-river, throwing everyone into the water and claiming many lives. It was the third boat mishap in the state within a month.
Aminu Liman Bodinga, the special adviser to the state governor on the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), disclosed that officials from the agency, the National Emergency Management Agency, and the National Inland Waterways Authority had begun search and rescue operations.
Oyetola said that the fatalities are both painful and avoidable.
He blamed the incident on the boat’s structure, stating that the structural weaknesses of wooden boats make them unsafe for modern commercial operations. He said that they cannot withstand the scale of haulage they are subjected to, especially under conditions of overloading, thereby making them even more prone to accidents.
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“The time has come for a decisive break from outdated practices,” he said. “Wooden boats have served their time, but they cannot be the future of water transport in Nigeria. The tragic mishaps we continue to witness are a direct consequence of the continued reliance on unsafe vessels.”
He recommended investments in fibre and aluminium boats, which are sturdier, safer, and more durable, and represent the global standard for inland and coastal waterway transport.
The International Centre for Investigative Reporting reported that up to 17 people die from boat mishaps in Nigeria every month. Data from the outlet showed that between January 2018 and October 2023, over 1,204 lives were lost on the nation’s waterways.
The Ministry was especially disappointed that its recent interventions, including the nationwide distribution of 3,500 life jackets to each riverine State, had not helped much due to a lack of modernisation.
“Life jackets alone cannot guarantee safety without safe boats,” he said. “This is the seed we must sow today to secure a safer, more prosperous tomorrow.”
Minister Oyetola stressed that water transport holds immense promise for easing pressure on Nigeria’s roads, boosting commerce, and unlocking the vast potential of the blue economy.
He warned that unless wooden boats and substandard vessels are phased out, the nation risks undermining public confidence in water transport which holds immense promise for easing pressure on Nigeria’s roads and boosting commerce..
“The blue economy is one of the great frontiers of Nigeria’s growth. For it to thrive, Nigerians must be assured of safety on our waters. The Federal Government cannot achieve this alone. It requires partnership and investment from our State governments. The safety of our people must be our collective priority. Every life lost on our waterways is one too many,” he said.
