Boat mishaps are becoming rampant in the country. On October 4, dozens died when a boat carrying about 150 persons capsized in Niger State. Also on November 30, a boat transporting about 200 passengers to a food market capsized along River Niger in Kogi State. Only 27 bodies have been recovered.
In this report, some Nigerians suggest ways to halt the incessant boat mishaps.
Government should set up monitoring teams- Philip Ahile, fitness coach; Makurdi
The problem is that the boats are usually overloaded and some of them have very weak engines. At other times, the drivers over-speed while some of them take a lot of alcohol before embarking on their journeys.
So, the government should set up monitoring teams to ensure that both boats and drivers are all in good condition before takeoff. They also need to check and ensure that boats are not overloaded. They need to also provide passengers with life or safety jackets to curtail these mishaps or reduce the number of casualties.
Only seasoned boat drivers should be allowed to operate – Jeffrey Amokaha, humanitarian worker; Makurdi
The government needs to dredge the waterways, and make provisions for good and working engine boats, and also provide protective jackets for users, and provide security and divers in case of mishaps. This is very important, and they also need to collaborate with experts to ensure quality service delivery.
So government should make and implement laws to guide the operations of boat transporters. Only seasoned boat drivers should be allowed to operate and those new in the business should go for training from time to time. Training of boat drivers can help reduce water accidents.
Government should clear debris from waterways – Amaechi Okonkwo, journalist, Port Harcourt
To halt the incessant boat mishaps on the nation’s waterways is not rocket science. Just as our government actors at all levels go abroad to acquire latest gadgets and devices, they should also copy from other countries like Malaysia, Spain and other developed climes on how they developed their water transportation and begin to develop modern passenger boats to navigate Nigerian waters.
The second most important thing is to maintain the sea routes by clearing them of all the debris that make them dangerous to navigate, in many cases contributing to boat mishaps. The new Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has its work cut out for it and should rise to its responsibility to give Nigeria a modern marine transport system.
There should be laws, sanctions against overloading – Aniefon Dick, journalist; Port Harcourt
The rate of recurring boat mishaps in Kogi, Niger and Delta States calls for great concern from the government. I suggest the government through the marine sector should ensure that all boats along our waterways are in good shape. Officials should be assigned to monitor every jetty in various states to ensure that our boats, engines and other accessories are functional. More so, government should provide more life jackets, and trainings to equip boat drivers on how to navigate our waterways when the need arises.
Laws and sanctions should be put in place to monitor overloading of passengers because I think, aside mechanical faults, it is one of the reasons we have occurrences of boat mishaps.
We need stringent law for boat transportation – Joy Chima, public servant; Umuahia
It is in Nigeria that this type of thing could be happening and with the rate it is happening. If it is not 150 lives that were lost, it is 200 and under the same circumstance. This has gone a long way to show that lives are not valued in the country.
To halt the incessant boat mishaps, Government should come up with a stringent law guiding the operation of boat transport business in the country. Anybody who does not meet up with such conditions should have no business engaging in boat transport business in the country.
Government should come up with safety measures – Rev Michael Igu, clergyman; Aba
The constant reports of boat mishaps which have been happening in the country of late are disturbing. The truth remains that if we value human lives in the country, these ugly and debilitating incidents should not be allowed to be happening. How can a small wooden boat be carrying up to 200 persons at a go? This is real madness. The government should put up measures urgently to curtail these ugly incidents. One of the things government should do is to streamline the operations of the boat business.
For instance, government should come up with safety measures, stating that anybody who did not meet up should not be involved in the business. The boats I know are constructed to a certain capacity of not more than 25 persons. The idea of allowing the operators to overcrowd such boats with over 100 passengers should be strongly discouraged.
Regulatory agencies should ensure that boats meet prescribed standards – Anthony Sani, former Secretary General of ACF; Kaduna
As far as I am concerned, there is no aspect of our national life that is spared of managerial imperfections. Boating is just one aspect of our human endeavours that faces challenges. See how vehicles that are not roadworthy are allowed to ply roads that are not properly maintained with all the attendant risks.
In order to halt incessant boat mishaps, the relevant regulatory agencies should ensure that boats meet prescribed standards of construction and there are no overloading. A situation where the boats are poorly constructed and are still overloaded must be discouraged by the relevant regulatory agencies.
Authorities should ensure that waterways code of conduct is maintained by boats operators – Rev Emmanuel Olorunmagba, cleric; Kaduna
The incessant boat mishaps in Nigeria call for serious concern and the government needs to ensure decisive actions towards curbing it. Between October and November 2024 alone, we have heard of tragic boat capsizing on two occasions leading to loss of no fewer than 270 precious people. Therefore, we call on the authorities concerned, precisely the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to gear up in their responsibilities to ensure that strict waterways code of conduct is maintained by boats operators. There is need for effective check of boats and other vessels to enforce regular maintenance and also to ensure that boats and other vessels are in proper order; and to check the recklessness of boat operators, to curtail over speeding, overloading, operating under the influence of alcohol or hard drugs, and to ensure that only adequately qualified and experience operators handle commercial boats and other vessels.
Government should enforce rules guiding water transportation – Comrade Osazee Edigin, activist; Benin
The state and local governments should pay more attention to water transportation by way of regulation and safety for users. Government regulation should ensure there is the manning of boat docks with qualified and trained personnel who will enforce the rules guiding water transportation and ensure travellers and sailors adhere to all safety measures at all times.
Strict enforcement of regulations is critical – Hon. Ogbidi Peace Ofure, member, Edo State Youth Parliament; Benin
Strict enforcement of regulations is critical, including licensing boat operators, registering vessels, and conducting regular safety inspections. Overloading, a primary cause of capsizing, must be strictly prohibited. Additionally, the development of waterway infrastructure, such as designated loading points, navigational aids, and weather monitoring systems can significantly improve safety standards. Public awareness campaigns and mandatory training for boat operators on safety protocols and emergency responses will ensure that both operators and passengers are better equipped to prevent accidents.
Nigeria needs agency to curb boat mishaps – Chief Alagoa Morris, executive director, Environmental Defenders Network; Yenagoa
I think, apart from the Marine Police, which is not visible; there is no known government agency looking into marine safety related issues. On land travels, we have the police, Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) and the state government agency that checks the road worthiness of vehicles (VIO). But, just as marine transport and commuters are always neglected whenever fuel prices are increased and government tries to lighten the burden by providing mass transit vehicles, there is no recognised state or federal agency in place for marine safety.
This is one of the reasons some of us have been canvassing the establishment of coast guards. Incidentally, the Bayelsa State governor stated recently the need to establish a similar body to assist the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry.
This is laudable and it would be fine if the federal government would collaborate with the state government in establishing such a body in the interest of marine transportation and guarantee safety.
The federal government collaboration is very necessary as the agency is expected to bear arms. One of the benefits is that it will create employment and open up another vista of opportunities in this new area and ensure professionalism in the sector too. It should also, to be effective, come up with legal and operational frameworks. Besides regulatory functions, there’s need to clear the creeks and rivers of physical materials like wreckage and fallen trees which are known to cause accidents too.