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Ways to Ensure Waterways Safety in Nigeria Inland Waterways
- A PAPER PRESENTED BY CHIEF RAYMOND GOLD, CO-FOUNDER AND CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABLE WATERWAYS AWARENESS, ADVANCEMENT AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION IN A STAKEHOLDERS FORUM HELD AT APAPA ON MONDAY THE 10TH OF MARCH 2025, TO SUGGEST IDEAS FOR THE SPECIAL MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON BOAT MISHAPS IN NIGERIA, SET UP BY THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF MARINE AND BLUE ECONOMY, ABUJA.
INTRODUCTION:
In recent times, there has been an increase in the volumes of persons and goods being moved by water across our country Nigeria. One reason behind this increase is the pitiable state of some of our roads. Bad roads increase travel time.
To save time, citizens are gradually embracing water transport as an alternative for both interstates and intrastate travels. Again, within some states, many communities (waterfront communities) are accessible only by water. In such situations the citizens have no other options of travel other than through water.
This increase in water transport patronage, has come with its own challenges including safety challenges. Water transport comes with its own value chain. It include transport, leisure, (tourism) and Fishing (agriculture). Thus any attention paid to fix the challenges of our country’s waterways (including safety challenges), would have a ripple effect on its entire value chain.
The challenges of our waterways include safety, security, poor infrastructure, environmental challenges and more. All these challenges are intertwined and a holistic approach is the best in tackling them.
LOSS OF LIVES AND PROPERTY THROUGH BOAT MISHAPS:
A report published by the Leadership Newspaper sometime in November 2024, put the number of deaths as a result of various boat mishaps on our inland waterways between the year 2000 and 2024, at 1,428. The report also revealed that although, the northern part of our country has low water levels, it recorded the highest volume of casualties.
In the last quarter of 2024, over 200 lives were lost in boat mishaps on the waterways of Kwara and Niger States alone.
As a result of this, SWAAADO worked with WABOTAN, an association of boat owners and drivers, to look into the causes of the boat mishaps. Causative factors as revealed in this collaborative work, include, use of sub-standard boats to travel, poor boat maintenance, night sailing, none use of safety vests (life jackets) and the lack of safety awareness by the the drivers.
For example, findings reveal that out of over 200 passengers involved in the boat mishap that happened on the night of October 1, 2024 in Gbajibo Community, Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, over half of the passengers were without life jackets. That boat mishap claimed over a hundred lives.
CAUSES OF BOAT MISHAPS ON OUR INLAND WATERWAYS:
Causes of boat mishaps can be grouped into three, namely: Natural factors, Human factors and
Technical factors.
1. Natural Factors:
These include, strong waves and currents, wrecks and other stumps
on the causeway, piles of sand and silt building up mainly due to indiscriminate
dredging along the waterways that could grind a boat to a sudden halt and cause an
accident, Very bad weather that could affect visibility, and many others. In some
environments, big animals that live in water ( such as crocodiles, alligators, whales,
sharks, hippopotamus, etc, ) could also cause an accident
2. Human Factors:
Human factors includes overloading, night sailing without the necessary navigational equipment on the boats, reckless driving by the boat drivers, nonuse of life jackets or wrong use of same, lack of training and subsequently lack of safety awareness on the part of the captains and the crew, driving with faulty engines, etc. for example, in the accident that happened sometime in August 2024 in Bayelsa state, the engine was running out of fuel and the driver tried to put fuel into the engine without putting off the engine first.
This recklessness on the part of the driver led to a fire outbreak and an explosion that resulted in very severe injuries and loss of lives. Some training in basic safety on the part of the boat driver would have stopped such recklessness.
3. Technical Factors: Technical factors include substandard boats and engines, sudden
failure of engines midway into the journey, inadequate or outright nonexistence of
navigational aids, etc
SUGGESTED WAYS TO REDUCE BOAT MISHAPS ON OUR WATERWAYS:
We suggest the following ways to reduce the incidence of boat mishaps on our waterways.
1. Training and retraining including public sensitization amongst operators and other
stakeholders to build capacity towards safety: Training and retraining of drivers and
their deckhands on basic knowledge of waterways safety such as the type that
SWAAADO does regularly in Lagos in collaboration with WABOTAN, an association of
stakeholders in the water transport sectors.
The curriculum for this training include…rules of the road, basic firefighting techniques, basic first aid procedures such as administering CPR, how to embark and disembark, how to adorn the life jackets properly, etc. SWAAADO in collaboration with WABOTAN, has done this training
consistently in the past seven years.
Many of the operators in the water transport sector (especially out inland waterways) are very informal persons who couldn’t have gone to our maritime academy. This kind of training and workshops would equipped them with the basic knowledge they need to ensure safety in the cause of plying their trade and thus reduce boat mishaps on our waterways.
It also sensitizes the public to appreciate and embrace the use of safety vests such as the life jacket.
2. Regulations and Enforcement:
The regulatory agencies, NIMASA for our coastal waterways and NIWA for our inland waterways should be strengthened to enable them enforce safety regulations on our waterways. Boat drivers should be licensed according to the capacity of the boats they drive….. PDSC certification from NIMASA and the National Boat Drivers’ License from NIWA. Every boat on our waterways should be registered and licensed just as it happens with vehicles on our roads.
Agencies should also sit up to fine/punish offenders to serve as deterrent to others. Such efforts towards regulation and enforcement should be carried out in an inclusive manner involving stakeholders. Both the agencies and stakeholders can co-create a safety culture for our waterways that would in turn reduce boat mishaps and reduce the loss of lives and property that come with such accidents.
3. Government investment in Water Transport Infrastructures and Safety Vests:
The water transport sector is a very huge part of our country’s economy. It is part of a
value chain that boost tourism,(Nautical/Water Tourism) and Agriculture (fishing).
Any investment in this sector is worth it. Governments, both at the federal and state
levels, should invest in this sector through the provision of standard boats for
commercial use, providing standard jetties, etc. Standard life jackets are not cheap.
Some citizens may not be able to afford personal life jackets. Both states and the
federal government should make life jackets available at the jetties where citizens
board boats to travel.
4. MDAs to complement NIWA’s Efforts on our Inland Waterways: State government
should also set up agencies or departments within their various transport ministries
to work with NIWA to ensure safety on the waterways within their states. The job of
ensuring safety on our waterways is enormous and shouldn’t be left to NIWA alone.
Thank you.
Chief Raymond Gold
Tel: 09032140048
Co-founder and Co-Executive Director, SWAAADO
LEKKI COASTAL ROAD: UMAHI PLEDGES TO CLEAR SWAMP CORRIDORS BLOCKING PORT EVACUATION ROUTES
Minister inspects 7th Axial Road project, sets April deadline for contractor
By Oghenewoke Onoriode | Waterways News Correspondent, Lagos
Minister of Works Engr. Dave Umahi has pledged to unlock waterlogged and swampy corridors along the Dangote Refinery route that are hampering cargo evacuation from the Lekki Deep Sea Port, following a hands-on inspection of the ongoing Lekki 7th Axial Road project in Lagos.
The Minister’s visit to the Lekki Corridor underscored the federal government’s recognition of the road as a critical last-mile link for maritime and port logistics — one that, when completed, will ease pressure on existing access roads and strengthen cargo movement from one of Nigeria’s most strategically significant port facilities.
The 7th Axial Road runs behind the Dangote Refinery and connects the Lekki industrial axis to the Sagamu corridor, making it a linchpin for port operations, industrial logistics and national freight movement. It forms part of a wider coastal infrastructure cluster that includes the Coastal Road, Dangote Road and the Lekki Deep Sea Port itself.
Expressing confidence in the project timeline, Umahi directed that roadbed filling works for Project Lot One must be completed by end of April, instructing the project team to ramp up the deployment of manpower, equipment and materials to meet the deadline.
He noted that the 7th Axial Road is designed to complement the broader Lekki corridor infrastructure, with the combined effect of reducing port congestion, improving cargo throughput and positioning the area as a major transportation and industrial hub for Lagos and the wider national economy.
The Minister also stressed the importance of environmental compliance, directing relevant agencies to ensure that construction proceeds without compromising ecological protection in the coastal zone — a concern of particular relevance given the road’s proximity to sensitive swamp and wetland terrain.
The project is being handled by China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC), the same firm that delivered the Lekki Deep Sea Port. A company representative assured the Minister that resources on site have been scaled up,
Waterways News | www.waterwaysnews.ng
with attention to safety, quality control and environmental standards.
Umahi cited CHEC’s track record on both the Lekki port and the Makurdi–Enugu road reconstruction as grounds for confidence in the firm’s ability to deliver.
NIGERIA AND CAMEROON SIGN SEARCH AND RESCUE AGREEMENT — A WIN FOR REGIONAL SAFETY
The deal extends emergency cooperation beyond the skies, with implications for maritime and cross-border rescue operations across the Gulf of Guinea.
Nigeria and Cameroon have formalised a Technical Aeronautical Search and Rescue (SAR) Agreement, marking a significant step in cross-border emergency response cooperation between the two neighbouring nations.
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo signed the agreement during a working visit to Cameroon, accompanied by the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo. The signing was confirmed in a statement by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood.
“Search and rescue cooperation is not simply a regulatory requirement under ICAO Annex 12; it is a humanitarian imperative and a moral responsibility” Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviatioon and Aerospace Space Development
Why It Matters Beyond Aviation
While framed as an aeronautical agreement, the deal carries broader significance for Nigeria’s maritime and coastal emergency response community. Nigeria and Cameroon share not only a land border but also overlapping maritime zones in the Gulf of Guinea — one of the world’s most strategically important and operationally challenging waterways. Strengthened SAR coordination between the two countries sets a precedent and a practical framework that could, in time, extend to joint maritime rescue operations in shared waters.
For Waterways News NG readers — port operators, shipping agents, seafarers, and maritime regulators — the agreement signals a regional shift toward more integrated emergency response, one that the maritime sector has long called for.
What the Agreement Does
The pact establishes clear communication protocols between the Rescue Coordination Centres (RCCs) of both countries, facilitates joint search and rescue operations, and strengthens rapid response mechanisms within their respective Search and Rescue Regions (SRRs). It brings both nations into closer alignment with international safety standards, particularly ICAO Annex 12, which governs SAR obligations for signatory states.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Keyamo was direct about the stakes involved. “Search and rescue cooperation is not simply a regulatory requirement under ICAO Annex 12; it is a humanitarian imperative and a moral responsibility,” he said.
He added: “In moments of distress, response time saves lives. Borders must never become barriers to humanitarian intervention.”
Framed Within the Tinubu Agenda
The agreement has been positioned by the Federal Government as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, which prioritises institutional strengthening, regional cooperation, economic revitalisation, and the protection of lives and property.
Keyamo described aviation — and by extension, the broader transport sector — as a strategic driver of economic growth and regional integration, while stressing that such growth must be grounded in safety and effective emergency preparedness.
“Today, Nigeria and Cameroon demonstrate that cooperation — not fragmentation — defines our regional approach to aviation safety,” the minister said, calling the agreement a practical expression of African solidarity and good neighbourliness.
A Building Block for Gulf of Guinea Cooperation
For the maritime community, the deal is worth watching closely. The Gulf of Guinea remains one of the most piracy-affected maritime regions in the world, and coordinated SAR capacity between Nigeria and Cameroon — two of its most significant coastal states — is a building block toward more robust regional maritime security architecture.
Nigeria’s maritime agency, NIMASA, has in recent years worked to strengthen its own SAR and anti-piracy capabilities through initiatives such as the Deep Blue Project. A complementary bilateral framework with Cameroon could reinforce those efforts and improve response times in the event of incidents near shared waters.
The agreement reinforces both countries’ commitment to international safety standards and, for those watching Nigeria’s place in regional maritime affairs, offers a quiet but meaningful signal of diplomatic momentum.
Waterways News NG will continue to track developments in Nigeria-Cameroon maritime and aviation cooperation.
— Waterways News NG | www.waterwaysnews.ng
CASABLANCA PORT SHUT DOWN AFTER VESSEL LOSES 85 CONTAINERS — SHIP SERVES NIGERIAN ROUTES
Port authorities in Morocco have suspended all vessel movements at the Port of Casablanca following a container overboard incident involving a ship that regularly calls at Nigerian ports.
Morocco’s National Ports Agency ordered the suspension at approximately 11:00 PM local time on Thursday, February 26, after the containership Ionikos lost an estimated 85 containers into the water near the harbour entrance while departing the port in heavy seas.
As of Friday, operations at one of Africa’s busiest container ports remained halted, with numerous boxes still reported floating in the channel, posing serious navigational hazards.
The Ionikos — a 52,427-deadweight-tonne vessel owned by Greek shipping interests and registered under the Liberian flag — is of particular interest to Nigerian shippers and port stakeholders. The ship operates on a service connecting Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean with ports in the Gulf of Guinea, including regular calls at Nigerian terminals and other West African destinations.
According to initial reports, the vessel had completed cargo operations in Casablanca and was bound for Barcelona when it encountered heavy swells on departure. The rough sea conditions caused the ship to roll violently, sending an estimated 85 containers overboard.
The Ionikos, built in 2009, measures 258 metres in length and has a capacity of 4,360 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). The vessel is currently anchored approximately six nautical miles offshore as authorities assess the damage and coordinate recovery efforts.
An overnight search and recovery operation was launched involving five vessels from Morocco’s Royal Maritime Gendarmerie and Royal Navy, alongside helicopter aerial support. Officials noted that darkness hampered early efforts to locate and secure the drifting containers. Tugboats have since been stationed near several floating units to prevent further hazards to passing traffic.
Local media in Morocco reported that the lost containers were carrying a range of cargo, including car parts, furniture, and consumer goods. At least one container is reported to have broken open and washed ashore on a nearby beach, where boxes of Nestlé-branded cereal were found scattered.
The incident compounds operational difficulties already affecting the port this winter. Reports indicate that a series of storms and persistent Atlantic swells have disrupted maritime traffic at Casablanca in recent months.
Port authorities said vessel movements would resume only when conditions in the harbour channel are deemed safe for navigation.
The disruption is being monitored closely by Nigerian shipping agents and cargo interests given the vessel’s regular Gulf of Guinea service schedule. Waterways News NG will provide updates as the situation develops.
— Waterways News NG | www.waterwaysnews.ng
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