The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has successfully reduced boat accidents and fatalities by 30% in 2024, according to a report by the Marine Crafts Builders Association of Nigeria (MCBAN).
The report, referenced Marine/2024/08/11/P/002, attributed the decline in accidents to enhanced safety measures and infrastructure improvements under the leadership of Bola Oyebamiji, a former Osun State finance commissioner.
Significant Drop in Boat Accidents
According to MCBAN, the average number of boat accidents recorded in 2021 and 2022 was 330, but this figure dropped to 231 in 2024. The Bureau of Transportation Accident Investigations emphasized the critical role of life jackets and strict safety enforcement in reducing casualties.
Water Marshall Initiative and Safety Enforcement
A major factor in the success was NIWA’s Water Marshall Initiative, which deployed 350 marshals across water terminals nationwide to enforce safety regulations and aid in rescue operations.
Additionally, NIWA distributed over 2,000 life jackets to boat operators in the past 12 months to improve passenger safety.
Future Goals for Waterway Safety
The report commended NIWA for its effective management of Nigeria’s waterways and urged the agency to build on its achievements.
"NIWA has demonstrated capacity to manage our waterways effectively and securely. It is hoped that by 2027, deaths from boat accidents would have reduced to the barest minimum, in line with the mandate handed to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, by President Bola Tinubu,” the report stated.
The agency continues to intensify its safety campaigns to ensure further reductions in waterway accidents in the coming years.