The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has called on boat users to avoid night travels, overloading, and to ensure they wear life jackets before embarking on any journey. He emphasized that night travel and overloading are major contributors to the rising number of fatalities on Nigeria’s waterways.
In a statement released by his spokesperson, Ismail Omipidan, on Friday, Oyetola stressed the importance of collective efforts in ending boat accidents, urging strict compliance with the water transportation code. The minister also expressed his condolences to the Niger State Government and the families affected by the recent boat accident on the Gbajibo River, which claimed several lives.
Oyetola commended the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) for its recent advocacy campaign, which warned against rising water levels, night travel, overloading, and failure to use life jackets. He urged NIWA to enforce the transportation code rigorously to reduce accidents and attract investment in the water transport sector.
Additionally, the minister called on state governments, particularly in coastal areas, to collaborate with NIWA to tackle the frequent boat accidents and enhance safety on the nation’s waterways.
