A maritime research organisation, the Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC), has blamed recurring boat accidents across Nigeria on weak enforcement of safety regulations, limited community engagement, poor data collection, and the absence of a coordinated national water safety strategy.
The Head of Research at SEREC, Mr. Eugene Nweke, stated this in a report recently obtained by The PUNCH. He said Nigeria’s inland waterways, despite their vast potential, have become increasingly unsafe due to systemic neglect and regulatory lapses.
“Nigeria, as a maritime and border-linked nation, is endowed with vast inland waterways and strategically positioned as a major transit hub in West Africa. Yet, the country continues to record frequent fatal boat mishaps, leading to the loss of lives, property, and public confidence in water transport,” the group stated.
SEREC identified two recurring crises threatening national safety and economic stability incessant boat accidents and the growing menace of drug abuse, narcotics smuggling, and counterfeit pharmaceuticals. These issues, it noted, expose “deep institutional weaknesses” within Nigeria’s enforcement and regulatory systems.
According to Nweke, while the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and several state waterways agencies have made some progress in regulation and awareness, enforcement remains largely reactive.
“Most interventions are implemented only after major accidents. There is limited community engagement, poor data collection, and an absence of a coordinated national water safety strategy,” the report noted.
The group attributed frequent boat accidents to poor enforcement of safety regulations, unregistered and overloaded boats, inadequate life-saving equipment, and the lack of professional training for operators.
“Most pilots lack proper navigation, weather assessment, and emergency response training. Lack of buoys, signal lights, and dredged channels make night navigation especially hazardous. NIWA, the Marine Police, and state waterways authorities often operate in silos,” it said.
SEREC also cited environmental factors such as blocked waterways, abandoned wrecks, and poor maintenance culture as additional causes of boat mishaps. It noted that poverty and lack of affordable alternatives force many commuters to use unsafe vessels.
To address these issues, the organisation recommended compulsory registration and licensing of all watercraft, safety compliance audits with strict penalties, and the establishment of an independent Marine Accident Investigation Board. It also called for mandatory certification and periodic retraining of boat operators, as well as integrating water transport safety studies into maritime academies.
The group further urged stronger collaboration between NIWA, the Lagos State Waterways Authority, the Marine Police, the National Emergency Management Agency, and local councils to establish a unified water transport safety task force for better coordination and data sharing.
Recent reports revealed that between January and August 2025, at least 92 passengers died in boat accidents across Nigeria, despite federal efforts to improve waterway safety.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, recently attributed many of the accidents to the continued use of wooden boats, which he described as structurally unsafe for modern commercial operations.
“The time has come for a decisive break from outdated practices. Wooden boats have served their time, but they cannot be the future of water transport in Nigeria,” Oyetola said, reiterating the Federal Government’s resolve to prioritise waterways safety and urging state governments to invest in modern, non-wooden boats.
Despite the government’s distribution of over 3,500 life jackets to riverine states, the persistence of accidents highlights what experts like SEREC describe as Nigeria’s deeper problem a fragmented and poorly enforced water transport safety system.
