Boat Accidents Claim More Lives in Nigeria

Another deadly boat accident in Nigeria has renewed concerns over the country’s continued struggle with unsafe water transport, as officials, experts and campaigners call for stronger enforcement of safety rules.

A search and rescue team is currently looking for survivors after a wooden canoe capsized in Jigawa State on Sunday. About 40 people, mostly female farmers and labourers, were believed to be on board when the boat sank. So far, 23 people have been rescued alive, while nine bodies have been recovered from the river.

The latest tragedy follows a pattern that has become common across Nigeria. After each accident, authorities promise to improve safety measures, but many of the same problems continue to cause more deaths.

Last month, 12 people, including a pregnant woman and six children, died in a boat accident on the River Benue in central Nigeria. Earlier this year, 14 people lost their lives when a boat capsized in Gumbi, Kebbi State, while passengers were returning from a wedding ceremony.

More than 55 people have already died in boat accidents across Nigeria this year, with several bodies still missing.

For millions of Nigerians living in rural and riverine communities, waterways remain the easiest way to travel. Many villages are located near rivers, while poor road networks and a lack of bridges make boats the only available option for transporting people, farm produce and goods to markets.

However, many of the boats used are old wooden canoes that are often overcrowded and lack basic safety equipment.

For survivors and families of victims, the impact of these accidents is painful and long-lasting.

Isiyaka Bello, a resident of Kebbi State, lost his wife last year when she and eight others died while returning from a village market.

“It seems like just yesterday. She left behind four children, and I am still struggling to adjust to raising them on my own.

“Whenever I pass by a large body of water, all I think about is her,” he said.

Experts say the major causes of boat accidents in Nigeria are well known. They include overcrowding, unsafe vessels, poor enforcement of safety regulations and the failure of passengers and operators to use life jackets.

Mallam Sala Altine, the Sarkin Ruwan Shiroro, a traditional leader responsible for safety on Shiroro Lake in Niger State, says a shortage of life jackets remains a major problem.

He explained that many boats carry more than 100 passengers, but there are not enough life jackets available.

“Our boats usually carry well over 100 passengers. But most of the time, we can only provide life jackets for 10 people, or even fewer, because we simply don’t have enough,” he said.

“We want to make it a rule that everyone who boards a boat must wear a life jacket. But we can’t enforce it because we don’t have any to give them.”

Altine said authorities have promised several times to provide more safety equipment, but the supplies received have often been insufficient.

However, Ibrahim Husseini, director of information at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Niger State, said the government regularly provides life jackets. He blamed some of the challenges on resistance from some communities where people are used to travelling by water without safety equipment.

“We have people who are born and raised in riverine communities who take it for granted that this is the life they are used to,” he said. “Sometimes it is difficult to force them to wear life jackets.”

Safety experts say women are among the most vulnerable during boat accidents because many women in river communities cannot swim. Yet, they often make up a large number of passengers travelling to markets, weddings and other family events.

Following a deadly boat accident in Niger State last year that killed at least 32 people, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) announced that wearing life jackets would become compulsory across Nigeria.

The authority also said commercial boats would only be allowed to pick up passengers from approved and registered locations.

However, experts say these rules already existed under Nigeria’s Water Transport Code, which was introduced in 2023, but enforcement remains weak.

Timothy Iwuagwu, president of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria, said regulations are ineffective if they are not properly implemented.

“The law requires that for any boat operating on a large body of water where someone cannot easily swim to shore, all passengers must wear life jackets,” he said.

“But these laws are hardly implemented. Any regulation is as good as its implementation.”

Iwuagwu also raised concerns about the lack of training and licensing for many local boat operators. He said operators should understand water conditions, including waves, tides and currents, before carrying passengers.

He added that boat owners must clearly display the maximum number of passengers allowed to prevent overloading.

The poor condition of many waterways is another concern. Experts say tree stumps left behind from logging activities can become dangerous obstacles when water levels rise, causing boats to crash and overturn.

Authorities have also raised concerns about the continued use of wooden boats. Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola said wooden boats are outdated and should gradually be replaced with stronger fibre and aluminium boats.

“The time has come for a decisive break from outdated practices,” he said. “Wooden boats have served their time, but they cannot be the future of water transport in Nigeria.”

However, some experts believe Nigeria can improve water safety by following the example of Lagos State.

Lagos, which has a large water area and depends heavily on water transport, has recorded a major decline in boat accidents in recent years. Authorities credit the improvement to safer boats, more life jackets, better dredging, trained operators and water guards stationed at terminals.

Abdulbaq Balogun, managing director of Lagos Ferry Services, said quick emergency response has also helped reduce deaths.

Despite these improvements, many Nigerians believe more needs to be done nationwide.

Popular Hausa singer Aminu Bagwai, who survived a boat accident 18 years ago that killed 36 people, including a bride travelling to her husband’s home, said he is disappointed that similar tragedies continue.