The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has announced sweeping safety measures, including an immediate ban on loading activities at unauthorized jetties nationwide, in a bid to curb rising boat accidents on Nigeria’s inland waterways.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, NIWA Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, said no commercial passenger vessel will be permitted to operate from unregistered or illegal loading points.
“Effective immediately, all passenger boats must load only from NIWA-recognised and registered terminals,” Oyebamiji declared. “It is also mandatory for operators to provide and enforce the use of lifejackets at all times. Every commercial vessel must display its name letters and load line clearly.”
He further ordered the removal of all unlicensed boats and watercraft from the waterways, adding that unlicensed drivers and operators are barred from ferrying passengers.
The directive follows a string of deadly accidents that have rocked Nigeria’s inland waterways. In August, more than 40 passengers were reported missing after a boat mishap in Sokoto.
Last year, at least 16 farmers drowned in a similar incident when their wooden canoe capsized en route to their rice farms.
Experts have repeatedly blamed poor regulation and weak enforcement of safety measures for such tragedies. NIWA’s new rules aim to restore order and improve passenger safety across the country’s waterways.
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