Nigeria’s waterways weave through the heart of our country’s agriculture and economy, carrying the lifeblood of food markets and rural livelihoods. Yet instead of engines of growth, these rivers have become deadly crossings where too many lives—mostly farmers and traders—are lost in tragic boat mishaps. President Bola Tinubu must urgently act to stem this tide of death that is quietly depopulating Nigeria’s farmers and undermining our food security.
Since 2018, over 1,200 Nigerians have perished in boat accidents nationwide—averaging 17 lives lost every month. Farming families have been wiped out in terrifying tragedies: in July 2025, 25 souls drowned in a single capsizing in Niger State, including 10 members of one family. Barely two months later, another overloaded vessel in the same state claimed 29 lives after hitting a submerged tree stump. These are not isolated incidents but part of a grim, recurring pattern across states from Lagos to Kebbi, Sokoto to Kwara.
Boat mishaps are a silent killer of Nigeria’s farming communities, many of whom rely on these waterways to transport goods to market. The losses reverberate far beyond the immediate tragedy. Each death chips away at a family’s ability to cultivate, sell, and sustain local food systems. Dr. Aremu Fakunle, an agribusiness expert, has highlighted how Nigeria’s waterways are vital arteries for food security and economic growth, connecting farmers with markets and consumers.
Why then do these tragedies persist? The causes are sadly preventable: overcrowding, unsafe and poorly maintained vessels, absence of life jackets, reckless operators, and lax enforcement of safety regulations. The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and other agencies have long struggled with oversight and enforcement, allowing needless risks on rivers used daily by thousands. The government’s promises and investigations ring hollow as the death toll climbs.
Mr. President, every life lost on these waterways is a blow to our ambitions for a thriving agricultural sector and resilient food supply chains. The farming communities these families belong to cannot be replaced. The government must urgently:
- Enforce strict regulations on boat safety, vessel maintenance, and passenger limits.
- Mandate the use of life jackets and emergency equipment on all waterways.
- Invest in modern, safer transport alternatives for riverine communities.
- Strengthen NIWA and emergency response capabilities with adequate funding and accountability.
- Launch public awareness campaigns on water safety and risks of overcrowding.
Boat mishaps are not accidents of fate but failures of leadership and policy. Nigeria’s farmers and traders deserve safer passage, not silent threats on the rivers they depend on. If we are serious about food security and economic growth, we must stop depopulating our farmers through deadly boat crises.
The time to act is now, Mr. President. Safeguard our waterways, for the sake of our people, our food, and our future.
