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NIWA Deploys Enforcement Teams Nationwide, Threatens Prosecution as Eid-el-Kabir Traffic Rises on Inland Waterways
NIWA Deploys Enforcement Teams Nationwide, Threatens Prosecution as Eid-el-Kabir Traffic Rises on Inland Waterways
Acting MD Girei also moves to reassure stakeholders rattled by Supreme Court ruling on NIWA Act
By Ighoyota Onaibre | Waterways News Correspondent
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has placed boat operators across Nigeria on notice ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, warning that enforcement teams will be stationed at jetties nationwide with authority to arrest violators, seize vessels, and initiate prosecution for safety breaches.
Acting Managing Director and CEO Umar Yusuf Girei issued the directive during a media engagement at NIWA’s headquarters in Lokoja, citing the predictable surge in waterway traffic that accompanies festive seasons — particularly in riverine and inland communities where boat transport remains the dominant mode of movement.
Zero Tolerance on Five Key Risks
Girei identified five non-negotiable safety requirements for the period: no overloading of vessels; mandatory life jacket use by all passengers and crew; a total ban on night travel; prohibition of alcohol consumption by operators; and mandatory weather checks prior to departure.
“No overloading, wearing of life jackets is mandatory, no night travel, no alcohol, and operators must ensure proper weather checks before embarking on any journey,” he stated.
The NIWA boss extended the warning to passengers as well, urging waterway commuters to refuse boarding on vessels that are overloaded, lack adequate life-saving equipment, or are attempting night operations — making clear that passenger vigilance is part of the safety framework, not just operator compliance.
Umar Yusuf Girei
Girei also called on community leaders and clerics to leverage Eid sermons and public gatherings as platforms to reinforce waterways safety messaging, signalling that NIWA is leaning on social influence networks to reach operators and passengers who may not respond to regulatory directives alone.
Supreme Court Ruling: NIWA Urges Calm, Awaits Certified Copy
In a separate but significant development, Girei addressed growing anxiety among NIWA stakeholders and clients following a recent Supreme Court judgment that touched on sections of the NIWA Act.
He clarified that the court’s ruling upheld the Authority’s core statutory functions — inland waterways navigation, safety regulation, channel management, river infrastructure development, and promotion of inland waterways transportation — as provided under Sections 10 and 11 of the NIWA Act.
What the Supreme Court voided, he explained, were Sections 12 and 13 of the Act — provisions dealing with land matters that the court found inconsistent with the Constitution. Crucially, Girei stressed that these provisions are unrelated to NIWA’s primary maritime mandate.
He urged all stakeholders to remain calm and law-abiding while NIWA obtains the Certified True Copy of the judgment from the Supreme Court, after which the Authority will issue a formal official statement.
Nigeria Watch
The dual messaging from NIWA’s acting chief — safety enforcement on one hand, legal reassurance on the other — reflects the twin pressures now bearing on the Authority as it navigates a period of institutional transition.
On the safety front, Nigeria’s record on inland waterway accidents during festive periods remains deeply troubling. Boat tragedies spike predictably around Sallah and yuletide, with overcrowding and night travel the dominant causes. NIWA’s announcement of jetty-level enforcement teams is significant if it translates to action on the ground — but the credibility gap between regulatory pronouncements and actual enforcement has long undermined safety outcomes on Nigerian inland waterways. Industry observers will be watching whether arrests are actually made this Sallah season.
On the legal front, the Supreme Court judgment carries longer-term implications that one media statement cannot fully resolve. Stakeholders in riverine land development, jetty operators, and state government agencies with competing claims over inland waterway land will be parsing the ruling carefully.
NIWA’s decision to withhold a comprehensive position pending the Certified True Copy is legally prudent — but the Authority will need to move quickly once that document is in hand, before the information vacuum fuels speculation that destabilises its operational environment.
The Rulebook of the Seas: How IMO Documents Govern Every Ship That Sails
By Okeoghene Onoriobe | Waterways News | Maritime Education Desk
Every vessel that departs a Nigerian port — whether a crude oil tanker clearing the Escravos terminal, a container ship leaving Apapa Quays, or a product carrier loading refined fuel from the Dangote jetty — does so under a dense framework of international rules. These are not merely bureaucratic formalities. They are the binding legal and operational architecture of global shipping, developed, adopted, and periodically revised under the authority of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations’ specialised agency for maritime affairs.
For Nigerian maritime professionals — from deck officers and port state control inspectors to terminal operators and shipping company managers — fluency in IMO documentation is not optional. It is the price of participation in international trade. This piece unpacks the key documents that govern global shipping and explains what each means for those navigating the industry from Nigerian waters.
What Is the IMO and Why Do Its Documents Matter?
Founded in 1948 and operational since 1958, the IMO serves as the global standard-setting body for the safety, security, and environmental performance of international shipping. Its headquarters in London produces a body of conventions, codes, and guidelines that member states — including Nigeria — are obligated to domesticate and enforce through their own legal systems.
In Nigeria’s case, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is the primary implementing body for most IMO instruments. Port State Control inspections conducted by NIMASA officers aboard foreign-flagged vessels in Nigerian ports are, in effect, enforcement of IMO standards. When a vessel is detained in Lagos, Port Harcourt, or Warri, it is almost always for non-compliance with one or more of the documents outlined below.
Understanding this framework, therefore, is essential not just for seafarers, but for every stakeholder in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
SOLAS — The Cornerstone of Maritime Safety
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is arguably the most important instrument in international maritime law. Its origins trace back to the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912, which exposed catastrophic failures in safety regulation. The modern SOLAS Convention, now in its 1974 consolidated form with successive amendments, establishes minimum safety standards for the construction, equipment, and operation of ships.
SOLAS covers an extraordinarily broad range of subjects: fire protection and firefighting systems, lifesaving appliances including lifeboats and immersion suits, radio communications, navigation safety, the carriage of dangerous goods, the management of ship stability, and more. For a Nigerian seafarer sitting their flag state examination or preparing for a NIMASA-administered competency certificate, SOLAS is foundational reading.
Beyond certification, SOLAS has direct operational implications for Nigerian ports. Terminal operators at Apapa, Tin Can Island, and the Lekki Deep Sea Port must ensure that vessels calling their facilities meet SOLAS requirements — and that shore-side interfaces, particularly in areas of fire safety and emergency response, are aligned with the Convention’s expectations.
MARPOL — Protecting the Ocean Nigeria Depends On
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), in its combined 1973/1978 Protocol form, is the IMO’s principal environmental instrument. It governs pollution from ships across six Annexes, covering oil, noxious liquid substances, harmful packaged substances, sewage, garbage, and air emissions.
For Nigeria, MARPOL carries particular weight. The Niger Delta — one of the world’s most significant oil-producing regions — has suffered decades of environmental degradation from oil pollution, much of it onshore. Against this backdrop, the enforcement of MARPOL’s Annex I provisions, which govern the discharge of oil and oily mixtures from ships, is not merely a compliance exercise but a matter of ecological and economic survival.
The alleged unauthorised discharge of fuel recently investigated at Tin Can Island Port is a reminder that MARPOL violations do occur in Nigerian waters — and that NIMASA and the Nigerian Customs Service must remain vigilant. Globally, MARPOL’s Annex VI, dealing with air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, is rapidly becoming one of the most consequential regulatory fronts, as the IMO pushes shipping toward decarbonisation targets that will reshape vessel operations well into the 2030s and 2040s.
STCW — Certifying the People Who Run the Ships
Regulations for ships mean little without trained and competent seafarers to operate them. The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), adopted in 1978 and substantially revised by the Manila Amendments of 2010, sets the global benchmark for seafarer education and certification.
STCW establishes minimum competency standards for masters, officers, and ratings across different vessel types and operating contexts. It mandates training in basic safety, advanced firefighting, medical first aid, survival craft, and — for officers — a host of operational and management-level competencies. The Convention also introduced the STCW Code, which provides detailed guidance on the standards countries must maintain in their maritime training institutions.
Nigeria has a direct stake in STCW compliance. The Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, as well as several private maritime training institutes, must maintain syllabi and certification processes that meet STCW requirements. Nigerian seafarers working on internationally trading vessels — and there are many thousands of them — hold certificates whose acceptability by foreign administrations depends on Nigeria’s whitelist status under STCW. Any lapse in the quality of Nigerian maritime training could jeopardise that status, with severe consequences for the employability of Nigerian seafarers worldwide.
COLREG — The Rules of the Road at Sea
The Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREG), adopted in 1972, is essentially the maritime equivalent of road traffic law. It sets out the rules that vessels must follow to avoid collisions — covering right of way, lighting requirements, sound signals, and navigation in restricted visibility.
Every officer of the watch on any internationally trading vessel is required to know COLREG by heart. The rules apply universally: in the open ocean, in port approaches, in traffic separation schemes, and in narrow channels. In congested waterways such as the approaches to Lagos Harbour — among the busiest in West Africa — strict adherence to COLREG is critical to preventing incidents that could cost lives, damage vessels, and disrupt port operations.
For Nigeria’s inland waterways sector, the principles embedded in COLREG also inform domestic navigation regulations, even where the IMO Convention itself applies only to internationally trading vessels.
The ISM Code — Managing Safety Ashore and Afloat
The International Safety Management (ISM) Code, which entered into force through a 1994 amendment to SOLAS, represents a paradigm shift in how the shipping industry approaches safety. Rather than simply prescribing technical requirements for vessels, the ISM Code requires shipping companies to establish, implement, and maintain a Safety Management System (SMS) — a documented framework of policies, procedures, responsibilities, and audit processes designed to prevent accidents and manage emergencies.
Under the ISM Code, every company operating qualifying vessels must hold a Document of Compliance (DOC), and every ship must carry a Safety Management Certificate (SMC). These documents are issued by flag state administrations after audits of both the company’s shore-based operations and the vessel itself.
For Nigerian shipowners and operators, ISM compliance is both a legal obligation and a commercial necessity. Vessels lacking valid ISM documentation will be detained by port state control authorities worldwide. Conversely, robust ISM systems are increasingly demanded by charterers and cargo owners as evidence of operational reliability — making ISM compliance a commercial differentiator in an increasingly discerning shipping market.
The ISPS Code — Security in the Post-9/11 Maritime World
Adopted in December 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code introduced a comprehensive security framework for international shipping that had never previously existed. It entered into force in July 2004.
The Code requires ships and port facilities to conduct security assessments, develop and implement security plans, and designate trained security officers — both aboard vessels (the Ship Security Officer, or SSO) and within port facilities (the Port Facility Security Officer, or PFSO). Vessels are required to maintain a continuous record of their movements, known as the Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR), and must display an International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC).
In the Gulf of Guinea context — one of the world’s most piracy-afflicted maritime regions — the ISPS Code has taken on added urgency for Nigeria. NIMASA’s administration of port facility security assessments and its collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and the Deep Blue Project assets must be anchored in ISPS compliance. The credibility of Nigeria’s maritime security framework in the eyes of international partners and shipping lines depends significantly on the quality of its ISPS implementation.
FAL Convention Forms — Cutting Through the Paperwork
The Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention), adopted in 1965, addresses the administrative burden that can accompany a ship’s arrival and departure from port. Through the standardisation of forms — covering matters such as crew lists, passenger declarations, cargo declarations, and health requirements — the FAL Convention seeks to reduce delays caused by excessive documentary requirements at ports.
The FAL forms are of direct relevance to ongoing reforms in Nigerian ports. The Nigeria National Single Window initiative — now live and supported by a dedicated Apapa assistance centre — is in part an expression of the FAL Convention’s facilitation objectives, translating international commitments into a digital, streamlined system for the submission and processing of trade documents. Efficient FAL compliance reduces vessel turnaround times, lowers costs for importers and exporters, and strengthens Nigeria’s competitiveness as a maritime hub.
The GMDSS Manual — Communications in Crisis
The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) is an internationally mandated communications framework for maritime distress and safety purposes. The GMDSS Manual, published and regularly updated by the IMO, provides the operational guidance that seafarers require to use the system effectively.
GMDSS replaced the old Morse code-based distress system with a constellation of satellite and terrestrial radio technologies — including INMARSAT, EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon), NAVTEX, and DSC (Digital Selective Calling) radio — that enable vessels in distress to send automated alerts containing their identity and position to rescue coordination centres anywhere in the world.
For Nigerian seafarers and shipping companies operating in the Gulf of Guinea, where piracy incidents can escalate rapidly, a thorough understanding of GMDSS procedures and equipment is not merely a certification requirement — it is a life-saving competency.
The Sum of the Parts: Why the IMO Framework Matters to Nigeria
Taken together, these documents constitute a system of governance for international shipping that is without parallel in complexity or global reach. For Nigeria — a nation whose prosperity is materially linked to the sea, whether through crude oil exports, imported food and manufactured goods, or the potential of its blue economy — the IMO framework is not an external imposition but a framework for opportunity.
Nigerian seafarers certified under STCW can work on vessels worldwide. Nigerian ports compliant with ISPS and FAL can attract quality shipping lines. Nigerian flag state administration aligned with SOLAS and MARPOL can support a credible ship registry. And Nigerian maritime institutions that teach these instruments fluently can produce the next generation of professionals capable of competing at the highest levels of the global industry.
The IMO rulebook is long, technical, and continuously evolving. But for every maritime professional in Nigeria, it repays careful study many times over.
Waterways News | Nigeria’s Maritime and Blue Economy Publication
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NIWA Cracks Down on Life Jacket Violations, Vows Strict Enforcement in Warri
By Okeoghene Onoriobe | Waterways News Correspondent
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has thrown its full weight behind the enforcement of its ‘No Life Jacket, No Sailing’ directive, warning that the policy will be applied without exception across Nigeria’s inland waterways.
The renewed commitment was announced during a one-day sensitisation and enlightenment programme hosted by NIWA’s Warri Area Office at NPA Waterside, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, as part of the Authority’s 2026 waterway safety awareness calendar.
NIWA Area Manager, Rufus Oladimeji, who addressed boat operators, waterway users and key stakeholders at the event, said the campaign was designed to deepen safety consciousness and reinforce the Authority’s zero-tolerance stance on non-compliance.
“We are here today at NPA Waterside, Warri, with one clear message that will guide all our operations going forward: No Life Jacket, No Sailing,” Oladimeji told participants, stressing that the directive was non-negotiable under NIWA’s mandate to guarantee the safe movement of passengers and goods on inland waterways.
He urged all boat operators and their passengers to treat the wearing of life jackets as routine practice before any trip — not a voluntary gesture, but a fundamental safety obligation.
The Chairman of the NPA Boat Owners Association, Paul Wilikie, offered assurances on behalf of operators, pledging that association members would align with NIWA’s safety directives. He said boat owners recognised the importance of safety compliance not only in protecting lives but also in sustaining the long-term viability of water transportation in the region.
The sensitisation exercise brought together a broad cross-section of stakeholders, including representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), traditional rulers, community leaders, water transport unions and boat operators — reflecting the multi-agency approach NIWA is deploying to drive behavioural change on the waterways.
A particularly notable feature of the day’s event was the distribution of life jackets to boat operators on the spot — a practical step aimed at eliminating the excuse of unavailability and encouraging immediate compliance.
The Warri exercise is part of NIWA’s wider 2026 safety campaign, which seeks to reduce the frequency of preventable water transport accidents through stakeholder engagement, targeted public education and firmer enforcement of safety standards across the country’s inland waterway network.
Navy Commissions Three Warships as Tinubu Declares End of Piracy in Nigerian Waters
By Ighoyota Onaibre | Waterways News Correspondent | Lagos, June 2, 2026
President Bola Tinubu has declared Nigeria’s territorial waters free of piracy, crediting the Nigerian Navy with a sustained campaign that has transformed the security landscape across the country’s vast maritime domain — a development with far-reaching implications for waterway commerce, offshore operations and Nigeria’s broader blue economy.
Speaking on Monday at the 2026 International Fleet Review held at the Eko Atlantic Waterfront in Lagos, Tinubu commissioned three new naval vessels — NNS Oloibiri, NNS Mambila and NNS Gurara — as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary. The President served as Reviewing Officer at the event, which featured a parade of warships from Nigeria and allied nations.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the newly commissioned platforms will reinforce naval operations targeting piracy, crude oil theft, illegal fishing and maritime smuggling across the Gulf of Guinea — a critical waterway corridor through which billions of dollars in trade and energy exports pass annually.
“Through the effective integration of surveillance systems, rapid response mechanisms and robust enforcement operations, you have successfully eradicated piracy in our waters and significantly curtailed crude oil theft and associated maritime crimes,” Tinubu told naval officers at the ceremony. “These achievements have enhanced the security of our littoral communities and contributed to increased oil production, thereby supporting national economic growth.”
For Nigeria’s waterways sector, the President’s remarks signal a more secure environment for vessel operators, ferry services, fishing communities and cargo movements along the country’s coastline and river networks. Security concerns in the Niger Delta and the broader Gulf of Guinea have long deterred investment and disrupted the livelihoods of millions who depend on water-based transport and commerce.
Tinubu described Nigeria’s maritime domain as a cornerstone of the national economy and a principal gateway for international trade, pledging continued government investment in modern naval platforms, surveillance technology, personnel welfare and capacity building.
“Nigeria’s maritime domain, endowed with immense natural wealth, remains a vital pillar of our national economy,” he said.
The President also acknowledged the Navy’s expanding counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations on inland and coastal waterways, praising the Special Boat Service for its performance in high-risk engagements and expressing confidence in the newly inducted Nigerian Navy Marines.
Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, attributed the Navy’s operational gains to sustained government backing, strategic acquisitions and stronger inter-agency collaboration. He said improvements in surveillance infrastructure and modern platforms had significantly upgraded Nigeria’s maritime security architecture, and reaffirmed the loyalty of all naval personnel to the Commander-in-Chief.
The fleet review drew naval chiefs from Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, reflecting the growing regional consensus around collective maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. Delegations from European countries, former Nigerian service chiefs and senior government officials were also in attendance.
Established on June 19, 1956 as a branch of the Royal Nigerian Navy, the service has since grown into a major maritime force responsible for securing Nigeria’s 853-kilometre coastline and an Exclusive Economic Zone of approximately 200 nautical miles — one of the largest maritime jurisdictions on the African continent
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