The persistent incidents of boat mishaps in the nation are linked to inadequate enforcement of regulations, overloaded boats, the absence of safety jackets, non-compliance with safety protocols, insufficient boat maintenance, and night time voyages, according to authoritative findings by LEADERSHIP Friday.
Additionally, data compiled by LEADERSHIP Data Miners Department reveals that a staggering total of 911 individuals, encompassing men, women, and children, have tragically lost their lives in 61 boat accidents nationwide between January 2020 and November 2023.
Also, data has shown that over the past six years, Nigeria witnessed a troubling trend in boat accidents, with 1,204 lives lost between January 2018 and November, 2023.
In the past five years, boat accidents and casualties have been recorded in all the 28 states that can be accessed through inland waterway in Nigeria.
Fatalities include women and children, although efforts were made to rescue many.
Reports have shown that in the past six years, over 12 states have recorded fatalities from boat mishaps.
According to the report, between January 2018 and October 2023, the following states: Niger 285; Kebbi 144; Kwara 125; Sokoto 117; Lagos 92; Anambra 80; Bauchi 76; Kano 45; Bayelsa 40, Taraba 50, Adamawa 60; Ondo and Benue 34 recorded causalities.
Just recently, a boat accident was recorded in Niger State’s Shiroro local government area, on Friday, November 16, 2023, claiming 10 lives.
According to report, the boat capsized at the Gijiwa/Kato ward terminal in the Shiroro local government area after leaving the Zangaro Bassa/Kukoki ward terminal. About 34 people, including 20 men and 14 women, were on the boat.
Also, in October, 2023, more than 70 individuals went missing following the tragic sinking of a boat filled with local traders in Taraba State in the North East of the country, as reported by emergency officials.
The boat carrying 100 passengers, comprising traders and children, tragically capsized en route Mayo Ranewa market in the village situated on the opposite bank of the river from the Karim Lamido district.
Regional head for National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ladan Ayuba, informed AFP that, “Seventy-three individuals remain unaccounted for in the boat incident, while 17 bodies have been recovered from the river thus far. Among the 104 passengers on board, fourteen have been successfully rescued.”
Also, spokesperson for the Taraba State Emergency Agency (SEMA), Bryson Ben, reported that the total casualties was 18.
Investigation has, however, shown that absence of passenger manifest compounded the difficulty in determining the precise number of passengers on board the ill-fated boat.
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Also, the heart-wrenching incident in Gbajibo, Mokwa LGA of Niger State serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of this issue. Over 100 passengers, including those en route to their farms, found themselves in a life-threatening situation as their boat capsized, resulting in the tragic loss of 24 lives.
This disaster is reminiscent of another recent tragedy in Adamawa, where 15 out of 23 passengers met a similar fate in Njuwa Lake, Yola South LGA. The year 2021 was marred by a series of boat mishaps, particularly in the northern region of the country. Kebbi State, in particular, witnessed a harrowing boat accident in June, claiming the lives of over 100 individuals, the majority of whom were traders en route a market in Kebbi State when the boat capsized.
Prior to this devastating incident, Kebbi State had already suffered the loss of over 20 lives in the Yauri Riverboat mishap. These incidents highlight the urgent need for heightened vigilance and improved safety protocols in the region’s water transport.
The tragedy extended its grip to other states as well, with a heartbreaking incident in Kano resulting in the loss of 29 lives, including young schoolchildren traveling to a religious event. Additional seven young girls were drowned in neighbouring Jigawa State when a boat overturned, further emphasizing the vulnerability of passengers in the absence of stringent safety measures.
Niger State also witnessed its share of sorrow as seven lives, including children, were claimed in Zhigiri village due to a boat capsizing in December. The dawn of the New Year brought no respite, as eight more individuals lost their lives in a boat accident in Bayelsa State while travelling from Ogboinbiri to Amassoma. Ondo State, too, did not escape this tragic trend, with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) reporting the loss of four lives and injuries to 19 others in a boat accident in October.
Another devastating event unfolded in May 2021 when a boat disintegrated between Kebbi and Niger states, resulting in the loss of 70 lives, with over 150 individuals going missing.
Also, another tragic incident occurred in October 2022 in Ogbaru local government area of Anambra State, where a boat capsized, leading to the tragic drowning of 76 out of the 85 passengers on board. The majority of the victims were women and children attempting to escape their community, which had been inundated by floods.
In May 2023, another heart-wrenching incident occurred when 15 children lost their lives due to the capsizing of a boat in a tributary of River Sokoto, with 25 others unaccounted for. In the same month, in neighbouring Zamfara State, eight individuals perished when a boat overturned near Gusau, the state capital.
The magnitude of these tragedies reached a grim zenith in June 2023, with over 106 people losing their lives in a boat accident in Patigi LGA, Kwara State. Additionally, three students met a tragic fate when their boat was overturned by turbulent waves on a river near Calabar, Cross River State.
According to a public affairs analyst, Adio Omoleye, regrettably, the response from both federal and state governments had been characterized by a lack of urgency and effectiveness. He said that rather than proactively implementing preventive measures, they often react with disjointed and inadequate responses following each accident which has resulted in an ongoing toll of fatalities.
Another analyst who is also involved in the transportation business, Umar Abubakar, pointed out that boat accidents occur in other countries as well. He urged the federal, state, and local governments to upgrade safety regulations to make water transportation modern, safer, and more reliable, adding that the National Inland Waterways Authority and counterpart regulatory bodies in the 36 states should update law enforcement and infrastructure.
A maritime expert, Abba Collins, said it is essential to recognise that boat accidents in Nigeria often stem from factors such as overloading, adverse weather conditions, inadequate maintenance, and the absence of essential safety regulations. He said, ‘‘Regrettably, many passengers don’t have access to life jackets, and the enforcement of this crucial safety precaution is virtually non-existent.”
“Boat owners, motivated by greed, overload their vessels with passengers and cargo, jeopardizing the safety of everyone on board. Corruption further compounds the issue, as some boat operators prioritize profits over lives by cramming their vessels with excessive cargo, making them susceptible to preventable accidents during storms. In light of these grim realities, we urgently implore federal government agencies, particularly the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), to rigorously enforce waterway laws.
‘‘It is their duty to ensure the safety of riverine travel through the implementation of safety measures and industry regulation to prevent future mishaps. The lives of our citizens should never be compromised for economic gain. We must prioritize the safety and well-being of all those who depend on Nigeria’s waterways for their livelihoods and daily commutes,’’ he added.
