Nigeria’s inland waterways are lifelines for millions and It helps in moving farmers, fisherfolk, traders, and schoolchildren across the Niger, Benue, Cross River, Ogun, Kaduna, and countless creeks. Yet boat capsizing, collisions, and near-misses have become distressingly frequent, with mass-fatality events in Anambra (2022), Kwara (2023), and recurring incidents across Sokoto and Niger States (2024–2025). In 2024 alone, several national outlets recorded deaths from inland waterway accidents. Early 2025 has continued this pattern, including fresh tragedies on market routes in Niger and Sokoto States.
A Brief History & Pattern of Occurrence
Recurring Mass Casualties
- Ogbaru, Anambra (Oct 2022): A devastating capsizing during the floods claimed 76 lives. The vessel struck a submerged bridge, and capsized, while most passengers did not use life jackets.
- Kwara (June 2023): A boat overloaded with wedding guests capsized after hitting a submerged obstacle; at least 108 people died, with dozens missing. The causes were reported to be poor compliance with life-jacket mandates and nighttime operations.
- Sokoto & Surroundings (2024–2025): This period recorded recurrent tragedies, including an August 2025 capsizing near Goronyo where 10 died and more than 40 were missing, and a July 2025 incident in Niger State with 25 feared dead.
- Niger State (Sept 2025): This is a deadly recent event that happened on 2nd September 2025, a boat carrying over 100 passengers struck a submerged stump in the River Niger and sank. At least 60 lives were lost. They are mostly women and children, with many still missing.
Regulatory Landscape & Safety Measures: Efforts to curbing the situation
- Fresh National Code (June 2024): The Federal Government introduced the Inland Waterways Transport Code. This mandates vessel registration, licensed operators, safety briefings, enforced passenger limits, night-travel bans, life-jacket use for all, and punitive measures.
- Life-Jacket Campaigns: The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) rolled out “No Life Jacket, No Boarding” campaigns and initiated enforcement drives in mid-2025, including in Gabgibo (Niger-Kwara area). The aim was to shift from awareness to active enforcement
- Equipment Distribution:
- Lagos (May 2025): 3,500 life jackets were distributed during a Lagos-focused safety event at LASWA’s Five Cowries Terminal.
- National Level (2025): The Federal Ministry launched a campaign for the distribution of 42,000 life jackets to 12 riverine states in the country.
- The Ongoing Challenges:
Despite these efforts, full compliance gaps remain a country-wide challenge while community level enforcement is patchy. Recent internal assessments in Lagos flagged 611 sub-standard boats out of 729. The challenges continue with overload, vessel maintenance, inexperienced operators, improper life-jacket use, navigating hazardous conditions and nighttime travels.
What has been revealed?
Shiroro (Niger State), Mid-2025
- In August 2025, The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) were dispatched following a tragic capsizing on the Shiroro stretch of the Niger River. Preliminary findings showed that out of 39 passengers, only 7 were donning life jackets and all the 7 survived, while 13 perished. This clear survival differential underscores the life-saving impact of simple safety measures. NSIB continues to ramp up efforts by training new investigators, installing data recorders, and boosting life-jacket safety campaigns across Nigeria.
Anambra (April 10, 2024): Nollywood Crew Incident
- NSIB issued a formal accident report following the April 2024 capsizing that involved Nollywood personnel in Anambra State. The investigation highlighted absent licensing, unregistered vessels, and non-use of life jackets. These are consistent risks seen across multiple events.
NSIB’s growing mandate & commitment
- The Bureau, formerly known as the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), now leads independent probes into transport accidents which includes marine, rail, road, and aviation under the NSIB Establishment Act of 2022. They have released a draft of the 2025 Marine Safety Investigation Regulations which reflects proactive efforts to strengthen marine accident response and oversight.
Why these disasters jeep happening
- Human factors: Human factors such as Operators’ error in terms of speeding, and distraction, night navigation, alcohol or fatigue, and absence of sufficient certified skippers. NSIB’s 2024 Anambra report found the driver unlicensed and only one passenger was wearing a life jacket.
- Non-compliant vessels & weak oversight: Ageing boats, poor maintenance, overloading, and missing safety gear such as personal floatation devices (PFDs), radios, and lights. The audits by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) highlighted compliance deficits even in the most regulated state.
- Environmental & seasonal risks: Floating debris, Peak rainy-season swells and low-visibility conditions can raise collision and increase capsize risks. This often coincide with the harvest or market periods. Similarly, it is the time when boats are heaviest. The 2022 Anambra tragedy occurred amid widespread flooding.
- Infrastructure gaps: The infrastructural gap in the sector such as unmarked channels, insufficient jetties and lighting, insufficient rescue assets and trained divers near hotspots are determining factors. NSIB repeatedly calls out slow rescue responses and poor communications between the departure and arrival jetties.
- Socio-economic pressures: For farmers, fishers, and traders, cheap boats are a lifeline, so operators often overload or skip safety steps to avoid losing income.
Why we must all be concerned: Agriculture, food security, and livelihoods
- Market access: Many accidents happen on food trade routes (tubers, grains, vegetables, livestock, and inputs). These delays and losses raise food prices and waste. Deaths also affect family labour and income. Recent cases in Niger and Sokoto involved boats heading to major food markets.
- Riverine livelihoods: Fishing and floodplain farmers use boats daily. Repeated accidents reduce workers and weaken community resilience to climate shocks.
- National goals: Safe waterways help to move food between states. This reduces pressure on poor rural roads and it supports Nigeria’s food security plans.
What works: A practical, phased safety playbook
Before a Voyage (Prevention)
- Life jackets: Boarding should never happen without a life jacket. Certified, standard jackets must be provided at jetties, and enforcement should be strict. To make compliance possible, free or low-cost jackets should be distributed in high-risk corridors where affordability is a barrier.
- Licensing & training: Only trained and licensed boat operators should be allowed to work. This includes certification for both daytime and nighttime operations. Mandatory drug and alcohol testing, and annual license renewal must be emphasized. Blacklists of non-compliant operators should be made public to deter unsafe practices.
- Vessel standards: Boats should undergo an annual safety survey. Clear decals must show passenger limits, and every vessel should carry essential safety equipment such as navigation lights, radios, bilge pumps, fire extinguishers, and first-aid kits. While some states already enforce this, the goal should be to expand it nationwide.
- Manifests & briefings: Before departure, every passenger should be listed on a manifest. Crew should also give safety briefings by explaining emergency signals and showing o where life jackets are stored. This should be done in the local language so that all passengers can understand.
- Time controls: Night travel on risky waterways should be banned. For areas where laws exist, stricter penalties should apply to any boat that departs after 7pm.
- Weather alerts: Boat operators should receive weather and water-level warnings through SMS or USSD systems. Journeys must be stopped immediately during storms, heavy rains, or dangerous water flows.
- Joint Compliance Checks with Accountability Logs:
Officers should conduct random spot checks at jetties before boarding. Each inspection (life jackets, manifests, vessel license) must be logged with the officer’s name, date, and signature. Supervisors should review logs weekly to prevent officers from turning a blind eye in exchange for favour
- Rotation & Oversight Teams:
Law enforcement officers posted at jetties should rotate frequently such as every 2–4 weeks, to avoid cozy relationships with operators. Independent oversight teams from the headquarters or civil monitoring groups should conduct unannounced inspections to mitigate lapses in enforcement.
During a voyage (mitigation)
- Speed & lookout: Speed limits must be respected at all times. On congested waterways, a designated lookout should be assigned to help the captain watch for hazards.
- Communication: Boats must have working radios, VHF handsets, or phones to stay in contact with departure and arrival jetties in real time. This will helps to track movement and raise quick alerts if something goes wrong.
- Load checks: Passenger and cargo weights must be checked before boarding. Boats should leave once the licensed limit is reached, and there should be no exceptions. This will prevent overloading as a common cause of accidents.
- Strengthen the Patrol & Surveillance Units:
Strengthen the deployment of marine patrol boats and the use of drones (where possible) on busy waterways to ensure that operators comply with speed, load, and communication rules. Officers on patrol should have authority to intercept and fine offenders immediately. - Real-Time Reporting Channels:
Create a toll-free number or USSD code for passengers to report officers or operators that colludes with breaking safety rules such as allowing night trips or overloading. Anonymous reporting protects whistleblowers and keeps enforcement officers under watch.
After an incident (response & recovery)
- Fast rescue: Trained rescue teams with boats and lifesaving equipment should be stationed in accident-prone areas. Studies show that delayed response often costs lives, so early rescue capacity is critical.
- Unified command: All relevant agencies such as the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), National Inland Waterways (NIWA), Marine Police, and local communities should work under one emergency plan. A single toll-free number should be provided so that victims and communities know exactly whom to call.
- Accountability: Every accident should trigger a transparent investigation. Safety alerts should be shared within a week, operators that are found guilty of negligence must be punished, while retraining should be mandatory to avoid repeat mistakes.
- Independent Incident Review Panels:
After every accident, a quick-response review team should be set up including NIWA/LASWA, Marine Police, and community representatives. Their role is to check if enforcement officers failed to prevent the accident (e.g., if they allowed overloading, or ignored safety checks). Officers that are found complicit should face necessary consequence. - Enforcement Performance Scorecards:
Publish quarterly performance reports of law enforcement agencies. This should show the number of inspections, fines, violations prevented, and disciplinary actions per location. Reward officers with outstanding performance publicly. This will motivate others to do better
Roles & responsibilities by stakeholders
Individuals (Passengers, Farmers, Traders, Fishers)
- Always wear a life jacket and other personal floatation devices (PFD).
- Say no to unsafe trips like night travel or overloaded boats.
- Make sure that your name is on the passenger list and report unsafe practices by phone or SMS.
Communities & traditional leaders
- Set up local Water Safety Committees with volunteers to watch over boats and respond to emergencies.
- Provide shared life jackets that families especially women and young workers can borrow when needed.
Boat owners/operators & unions
- Register all boats, do yearly safety checks, and make sure that drivers are licensed.
- Keep radios, lights, and first aid kits on board.
- Enforce No passenger list, no trip. Give short safety talks before leaving.
Civil society & media
- Do surprise safety checks and share results publicly.
- Run awareness campaigns in local languages on radio, television and social media platforms
- Provide legal support for victims’ families and press for strict enforcement.
State governments
- Set up or strengthen State Waterways Authorities. Follow Lagos’ example: “No life jacket, no boarding.”
- Set up, staff and fund rescue centers at busy jetties, and connect them to the state emergency services.
Federal government
- Enforce the existing Inland Waterways Code: passenger lists, speed & load limits, no night trips, licensed operators, regular inspections.
- Expand nationwide life jacket distribution and enforcement, especially along the Niger–Benue rivers.
- Fund NSIB to investigate every fatal crash and publish reports quickly.
- Train local divers as part of the safety follow-up.
- National Orientation Agency should lead strategic public education and advocacy on safety in Nigeria waterways. This should be done in the three major languages of the country
Development partners & philanthropists
- Support early warning systems for weather and water levels.
- Train divers and provide rescue equipment to local communities.
- Help small businesses to upgrade boats and jetties to meet safety standards in market areas.
Business & impact opportunities on Nigeria’s waterways (PPP)
Despite the current challenges, the Nigeria’s inland waterways are not only lifelines for trade and food transport but also untapped markets for profitable and impactful investments. A structured safety and efficiency upgrade can create opportunities where business growth can meet public good in several ways such as:
- Certified Life Jacket Manufacturing & Distribution
A local industry for producing certified personal flotation devices (PFDs) can serve millions of passengers. Through social franchising, cooperatives at river jetties can distribute jackets at scale, ensuring safety while generating steady retail income for grassroots businesses. - Compliance-Ready Boat Building & Retrofits
There is a huge retrofit market, especially in Lagos, for safer vessels. Fiberglass and aluminum hulls fitted with buoyancy chambers, navigation lights, radios, and other compliance tools can be sold to operators via lease-to-own schemes. This creates a win–win opportunity: safer journeys and affordable access for transport unions. - Jetty Upgrades & Rescue Hubs
Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) can modernize river jetties with floating pontoons, solar-powered lighting, signage, and emergency lockers that are equipped with throw rings, rescue boards, and first-aid kits. These upgrades will reduce accidents and also open new concession revenue streams from docking fees and service contracts. - Digital Ticketing & Passenger Manifest Systems
Low-cost Android apps with QR-code ticketing can streamline manifests. This will enable quick passenger counts, and integrate micro-insurance. It will not only ensure compliance but also builds digital records that strengthen financial inclusion for operators and commuters. - Weather & Water-Level Services
Bundling real-time weather and water alerts into telco services can save lives while generating subscription income. Cooperatives, state governments, and traders are ready markets for affordable SMS/USSD-based alerts that minimize risks and enhance operational planning. - Training Academies for Operators and Responders
Establishing training centers for skipper licensing, diver and emergency responder certification, and periodic refresher courses offers dual benefits. This will raise professional standards while creating a profitable vocational training sector that aligned with NIWA and state requirements. - Parametric Micro-Insurance
Micro-insurance products linked to digital tickets can offer instant payouts to families or operators when accidents are verified. This will build trust in the system, cushions household shocks, and establish a scalable revenue model in partnership with insurers and fintechs. - Agri-Cold-Chain Boats
Specialized insulated boats for transporting fish, vegetables, and perishable produce can reduce spoilage, lower food waste, and raise farmer incomes. By aligning safety upgrades with food-system efficiency, investors can unlock a high-demand niche market with strong social and economic returns.
The Big Picture:
Each of these opportunities demonstrates that investing in safer waterways is not charity. It is smart business with measurable impacts. From manufacturing to fintech, logistics to insurance, the potential spans multiple sectors, and offer investors sustainable returns while advancing food security, job creation, and climate resilience.
Conclusion
Boat safety is more than transport, it is about food security, human livelihoods, and dignity. When waterways are safe, riverine dwellers, farmers and fishers can reach markets without fear, prices experience stability, and families will keep their incomes.
The solutions are glaring which include institutionalization of NSIB recommendations and equip her with modern investigative tools like data recorders, forensic labs, and operational reach especially to remote waterways, enforce life jacket rules, license operators, upgrade vessels, and restrict risky night trips. Reports and state examples prove that these measures work. What is missing is national and state commitment, steady funding with adequate monitoring & accountability, and strong public–private partnerships.
Now is the time to act so that the boats that feed our markets are no longer mass graves
Dr. Aremu Fakunle is a Senior Agribusiness and Policy Expert based in Abuja, Nigeria.
