Rising Deaths on Nigeria Waterways: Lack of Enforcements and Operators’ Nonchalance to Blame

Rising Deaths on Nigeria Waterways: Lack of Enforcements and Operators’ Nonchalance to Blame

Boat mishaps have claimed the lives of hundreds of Nigerians in recent years, particularly in states such as Lagos, Anambra, and Kwara. These accidents on the nation’s waterways could have been prevented if the state and federal governments placed a premium on safety and ensured that dangerous actions like over-speeding, overloading, and non-use of life jackets, among others, were enforced to the latter.

Experts in marine transportation have always advised boat operators and management of jetties to ensure that all passengers comply with safety measures to guarantee safe water travel, with emphasis placed more on wearing life jackets.

Despite the frequent loss of lives on waterways, many jetties, especially those sited along riverine communities, do not enforce the use of life jackets.

The operators virtually see life jackets as a taboo and huddle passengers, including vulnerable children and pregnant women who rely on water transportation, into their boats.

Recent data from 2023 shows that 300 people died in boat mishaps on the nation’s waterways. Boat accidents have become a reoccurring decimal in Anambra, Niger, Lagos, and Kwara states.

In November 2023, a boat sank on the Lagos waterway, prompting the suspension of ferry operations at the terminal by Equus Logistics Limited.

The presence of water hyacinth was making water travel treacherous and dangerous. The incident forced passengers to evacuate and wait to be rescued.

Wearing a life jacket makes it easier for a drowning passenger to be rescued. A diver and boat operator at Apapa jetty, beside Ajegunle school complex, Osai Esemene, said,

“If you wear a life jacket, we can’t miss you in the water because you will be floating. The search team will see and rescue you first before going underwater to look for those who have drowned.

Life jacket makes sinking impossible but without it and you don’t know how to swim, it will become a disaster.

It is not where people fall into the water that they are found because the water will keep moving and pushing them further. In most cases, because water will take those in a capsized boat in different directions, we may not be able to rescue everyone.

But with a life jacket, the chance of being rescued is very high because the bright-coloured jacket would be seen from afar. To help yourself and the search team, please always wear a life jacket because nobody can prevent a boat accident.”

Despite the dangers of not wearing a life jacket, many boat operators do not enforce them. For instance, during a visit to some riverine communities in Badagry, it was discovered that Pathfinder Jetty, one of those located on Marina Road, Badagry, in the Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State, have passengers board without life jackets.

Boat operators claim that they have enough life jackets but do not use them unless they find out that officials of Lagos State Waterways Authorities are on patrol.

They also argue that the distance they cover is very short and so, there is no need for the life-saving suit. The absence of mandatory safety rules and regulations in the country’s waterways has been a major challenge and a contributing factor to the high rate of boat accidents and fatalities.

In short, the government must prioritize safety on the nation’s waterways and enforce safety measures to reduce unnecessary loss of lives.

Boat operators and management of jetties must ensure that all passengers comply with safety measures to guarantee safe water travel, with emphasis placed more on wearing life jackets. Passengers must also take responsibility for their safety and wear life jackets at all times.