The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), has decried the absence of navigational aides on the nation’s inland waterways.
The stakeholders have lamented the lack of adequate infrastructure such as navigation markers, such as the green and red indicators that denote safe and unsafe routes.
Speaking in Lagos during a meeting with various stakeholders, including the Association of Tourist Boats and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), the Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association of Nigeria (WABOTAN), and representatives from the National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), the President of FTAN, Nkereweum Onung, warned that rising boat accidents in the waterways could damage Nigeria’s reputation and deter visitors from engaging in water-based activities.
He stressed that for maritime tourism to thrive, the safety of tourists on water must be guaranteed.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the meeting was also a fact-finding mission to assess the maritime tourism ecosystem and the challenges facing boat operators in Lagos.
However, Onung urged the federal, state governments and water transport operators to prioritise safety and infrastructure development in the maritime tourism sector.
Onung who shared a personal experience of a two-hour boat ride from CMS in Lagos to Benin Republic, noted the absence of proper navigation lights and the difficulties posed by water hyacinths.
“There is a need for better infrastructure, including more visible red and green lights to mark safe and unsafe areas, to prevent accidents like the recent boat tragedies,” Onung said.
He emphasised the importance of equipping all boats with good life jackets and strict enforcement of safety rules, especially regarding overloading and navigation markers.
Onung underscored the potential of Nigeria’s waterways for tourism and economic growth, noting that accidents could undermine progress.
He stressed that without proper safety standards and government enforcement, the sector’s potential remained at risk.
The FTAN president appealed to the government and operators to create a safer and more attractive maritime tourism environment, which would encourage Nigerians and foreign tourists to explore the country’s waterways and resorts.
According to him, with the depreciation of the Naira, maritime tourism is a more sustainable option for the average Nigerian family.
“Foreign trips are becoming unsustainable for an average Nigerian family, so it has become expedient to promote local tourism, including maritime tourism activities for both local and international tourists,” Onung said.
“We decided that it is time for us to take this sector more seriously for the sake of, first of all, the operators, the government, and then our economy. Yes, we are tourism people, but you could understand that the Federation has those on water as part of us. That tells you that there is a lot about maritime tourism,” he stated.
The National President of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (WABOTAN), Tarzan Balogun, called for stricter safety regulations and enforcement to prevent further tragedies on the country’s waterways.
Balogun emphasised that tourists depended on boat operators for safe transport and that operators could not afford to risk lives due to preventable incidents.
“We don’t have enough of these navigation signs, but the government is working on it, and prevention should be prioritised over reaction,” he said.
According to Balogun, as Nigeria aims to expand its tourism sector, water transportation is crucial in attracting visitors to explore the country’s scenic waterways.
