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Niger State Partners FG to Combat Rising Boat Accidents Through Modern Vessel Initiative
Minna, Niger State – In a decisive move to address the alarming rate of waterway fatalities, Niger State Government has partnered with the Federal Government through the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) to phase out dangerous wooden boats with safer fiberglass alternatives.
The state received eight modern fiberglass boats during the 2024 World Maritime Day celebration in Minna, as part of a broader 33-vessel distribution program across waterway-dependent states in Nigeria.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, represented by his deputy Yakubu Garba, revealed the staggering human cost of boat accidents in the state during the ceremony. According to official figures, Niger State has recorded 182 deaths from boat mishaps between 2022 and 2024, with casualties distributed as follows:
– 95 lives lost in 2022
– 68 deaths in 2023
– 19 fatalities in 2024
“The loss of 182 lives in three years is unacceptable,” Governor Bago stated, attributing the frequent accidents to factors including tree logs in waterways, vessel overloading, and dangerous night travel practices.
N-HYPPADEC Managing Director, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, emphasized the superior safety profile of fiberglass boats compared to traditional wooden vessels. The commission’s comprehensive safety approach includes not only vessel replacement but also the distribution of life jackets to waterway communities.
The federal initiative adopts a needs-based allocation system, with states receiving boats according to their water body coverage:
– Kaduna and Gombe: 1 boat each
– Nasarawa and Taraba: 2 boats each
– Benue: 3 boats
– Kwara and Kogi: 4 boats each
– Kebbi: 6 boats
– Niger State: 8 boats (highest allocation)
The Chairman of Niger State Boat Operators, Alhaji Attahiru Isah, welcomed the initiative while calling for the establishment of rescue marshals to ensure rapid emergency response capabilities on waterways.
This development comes amid a national waterway safety crisis, with recent reports indicating that boat accidents across Nigeria claimed at least 231 lives in 2024 alone, highlighting the urgent need for modernized water transportation infrastructure.
The partnership represents a significant step toward reducing Nigeria’s waterway accident statistics and protecting lives in riverine communities that depend heavily on water transportation for commerce and daily mobility.
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