The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has issued a stark warning to boat operators across Nigeria, particularly in Onitsha, Anambra State, and Asaba, Delta State, urging them to adhere strictly to safety regulations or face arrest and prosecution. The call came amid rising concerns over boating accidents and public safety on Nigeria’s inland waterways, especially during the festive season when travel volumes typically surge.
In a communiqué issued on December 13, 2024, NIWA cautioned boat operators and passengers against overloading, failing to wear life jackets, and engaging in night travel. The agency also prohibited the combined transport of passengers and heavy goods, such as yam, cassava, rice, and other grains, on the same boat.
The warning was delivered by Mr. Suleiman Nicholas, NIWA’s Area Manager for Onitsha, on behalf of the agency’s Managing Director, Mr. Bolaji Oyebamiji. The announcement was made during the agency’s fourth-quarter sensitization program, a public awareness initiative aimed at educating boat operators and passengers about safe practices on Nigeria’s rivers and waterways.
Safety Concerns Intensify Amid Increased Travel
NIWA’s decision to ramp up enforcement comes as the year-end festive season approaches, a period when many Nigerians rely on boats for inter-state travel. With increasing numbers of people traveling home for the holidays and traders ramping up commercial activities, the risks associated with non-compliance to safety measures are amplified.
Suleiman emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that boat accidents have become an alarming issue in recent years. He pointed out that while road accidents are a daily occurrence in Nigeria, a single boat mishap often garners widespread media attention, thrusting NIWA into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
“Once there is a boat mishap, it makes news, and NIWA is always placed at the center stage. We don’t want that negative attention,” Suleiman said. “We have had enough boat accidents, and we don’t want any more casualties.”
Crackdown on Safety Violations
One of the key elements of the new directive is a crackdown on operators who continue to ignore basic safety protocols. NIWA expressed frustration over what it described as a lack of interest among boat operators in ensuring the safety of their passengers. According to the agency, many operators prioritize profit over safety, often disregarding regulations that mandate the use of life jackets and the prohibition of overloading boats.
Suleiman also criticized the complicity of water transport unions, many of whose members own and operate boats. He claimed that some union members actively frustrate the enforcement of safety laws, undermining efforts to curb unsafe practices on the waterways.
“Unfortunately, many of the boat operators we engage with are members of water transport unions. They are both the owners and operators of the boats. If we make laws and ask them to enforce them, they frustrate the process,” he lamented.
In response, NIWA has decided to take a more aggressive stance. In collaboration with the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Navy, and Maritime Police, the agency has pledged to arrest and prosecute boat operators and passengers who flout safety regulations. NIWA has also mobilized its own security arm, the NIWA Police, to help enforce these new directives.
The primary focus of NIWA’s sensitization efforts is to remind boat operators and passengers of the importance of adhering to safety measures. Chief among these is the mandatory use of life jackets. Suleiman stressed that passengers who refuse to wear life jackets would be breaking the law, as would boat operators who allow passengers to board without proper safety gear.
Additionally, boat operators have been advised against engaging in night travel, a common practice that is considered hazardous due to poor visibility and the increased risk of accidents. NIWA also emphasized the need for boat operators to refrain from overloading their vessels, a practice that often compromises stability and increases the likelihood of capsizing.
The agency also discouraged the practice of carrying both passengers and heavy goods on the same boat. Goods such as yam, cassava, rice, and other bulky items are commonly transported on inland waterways but must not be carried alongside passengers, as this can compromise the boat’s safety and balance.
“Boat operators must not carry both passengers and heavy goods like food items and grains in the same boat. These items add weight and make the boat prone to accidents,” Suleiman warned.
