Boat Tragedies Reflect Absence of National Water Safety Strategy – SEREC
The Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) has raised concerns over Nigeria’s recurring boat accidents, attributing them to weak enforcement, poor community engagement, inadequate data collection, and the absence of a unified national water safety strategy.
In a statement by its Head of Research, Mr. Eugene Nweke, SEREC emphasized that despite Nigeria’s vast inland waterways and its strategic position as a maritime hub in West Africa, the country continues to suffer frequent and fatal water transport incidents across states including Lagos, Niger, Kebbi, Anambra, and Rivers.
“These tragedies not only lead to the loss of lives and destruction of property but also erode public confidence in water transport as a credible alternative to road travel,” Nweke stated.
Recurring Challenges
SEREC identified two persistent crises undermining national safety and economic stability ; the incessant boat accidents on inland waterways and the growing menace of drug abuse, narcotics smuggling, and counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
“These twin threats expose deep institutional weaknesses in enforcement and regulatory coordination,” the group noted.
While the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and some state waterways agencies have made efforts to introduce regulations and public sensitization programs, SEREC lamented that most interventions remain reactive and short-term.
“There is limited community engagement, poor data collection, and an absence of a coordinated national water safety strategy,” SEREC observed.
Root Causes of Boat Accidents
The organization listed several contributing factors, including:
- Weak enforcement of safety regulations.
- Operation of unregistered and overloaded boats without life-saving equipment.
- Poor training of pilots in navigation, weather assessment, and emergency response.
- Lack of buoys, signal lights, and dredged channels, especially on night routes.
- Poor inter-agency coordination between NIWA, Marine Police, and state authorities.
- Environmental neglect such as blocked waterways, abandoned wrecks, and poor maintenance culture.
SEREC further noted that poverty and lack of affordable alternatives compel many commuters to use unsafe wooden vessels.
Recommendations
To address these challenges, SEREC called for a series of coordinated reforms, including:
- Compulsory registration and licensing of all watercraft.
- Mandatory safety compliance audits with strict penalties for violations.
- Establishment of an independent Marine Accident Investigation Board.
- Mandatory certification and periodic retraining of boat operators.
- Integration of water transport safety studies into maritime academies and local training centers.
- Creation of an inter-agency Water Transport Safety Task Force to enhance unified command and data sharing.
Stronger collaboration among NIWA, the Lagos State Waterways Authority, the Marine Police, NEMA, and local councils to ensure a safer and more sustainable inland transport system.
National Concern
Recent data published by The PUNCH revealed that between January and August 2025, at least 92 passengers lost their lives in boat accidents across Nigeria, despite renewed government efforts to improve waterways safety.
In response, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, appealed to state governments to phase out wooden boats, stressing that their continued use has been a major cause of these tragedies.
According to the minister, the structural weaknesses of wooden boats make them unsafe for modern commercial operations. “The time has come for a decisive break from outdated practices. Wooden boats have served their time but cannot be the future of water transport in Nigeria,” he declared.
SEREC reiterated its commitment to advancing maritime safety research and promoting evidence-based policies to reduce accidents and enhance public confidence in Nigeria’s blue economy.