The Federal Government, through the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has officially banned all unauthorized boat loading points across Nigeria in a move aimed at improving safety on the country’s waterways.
This was disclosed by Mr Bola Oyebamiji, Managing Director of NIWA, during a press briefing held on Tuesday in Abuja, where he addressed the rising number of boat mishaps across the country.
According to Oyebamiji, no commercial passenger boat will be allowed to load or depart from any point that is not recognised and registered by NIWA. He stressed that the new directive is part of a wider plan to ensure that inland water transportation becomes safer and more reliable for Nigerians.
“From now on, only authorised and properly registered loading points will be used for boarding passenger boats,” Oyebamiji said. “This is to stop the dangerous practice of using illegal jetties and unregulated loading zones.”
He added that life jackets are now mandatory for all passengers on commercial boats, and operators must ensure compliance at all times. “Every boat must carry enough life jackets for passengers and crew. No life jacket, no boarding — that is our policy going forward,” he stated.
To support the new safety measures, NIWA has also banned unlicensed boat operators and drivers from using the waterways. All boats and watercraft not registered with the authority are to be removed immediately from service.
“Every commercial passenger boat must clearly display its name and load line,” Oyebamiji said, adding that the authority would not tolerate any violation of the rules.
He further urged the National Assembly to speed up the passage of the Coastal Guards Bill, which he said would give legal backing to the ongoing enforcement actions and strengthen Nigeria’s maritime safety efforts.
“We need the Coastal Guards Bill to be passed to give us more power to enforce safety laws and prevent avoidable tragedies on our waterways,” he said.
To boost enforcement, Oyebamiji revealed that NIWA has increased its number of water marshals from 80 to 350, a significant expansion intended to improve on-the-ground supervision and regulation.
“These marshals will not only enforce the rules but also provide safety briefings to passengers before departure,” he explained.
In addition, NIWA has introduced passenger manifest systems at all its area offices. This will help keep accurate records of all passengers boarding from registered jetties and loading points, aiding in search-and-rescue efforts in case of emergencies.
The authority has also installed marine navigational buoys, carried out hydrographic surveys, and embarked on the training of boat operators across the country. Oyebamiji said these efforts were geared toward building a safer water transport system.
He assured Nigerians that NIWA would continue to clear logs, wrecks, and aquatic waste from the waterways to make navigation safer for both commercial and private vessels.
Frequent boat accidents in recent years, particularly in riverine areas such as Lagos, Bayelsa, Niger, and Kebbi states, have led to calls for stricter regulation of water transport. In some cases, overloading, lack of life jackets, and the use of unseaworthy boats have resulted in tragic loss of lives.
Stakeholders in the maritime and transport sectors have commended NIWA for its new measures and urged the public to comply with all safety rules.
With these new steps, the Federal Government aims to drastically reduce the frequency of boat mishaps and build public confidence in water transportation as a safe and reliable alternative to road travel.
