Boat Accidents: NIWA Bans Unlicensed Operators, Illegal Loading Points On Waterways

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) announced on Monday that unlicensed drivers and operators are prohibited from operating on the nation’s inland waterways.

Speaking to journalists during a special press conference to address concerns over the recent boat mishap, NIWA’s managing director, Bola Oyebamiji, said NIWA has banned all loading activities from unauthorised points across the country.

According to Oyebamiji, only recognised and registered jetties may be used. All commercial operators are mandated to provide lifejackets for passengers, and every boat must clearly display its name and load line.

Oyebamiji, who announced a raft of new measures to strengthen safety and enforcement across Nigeria’s inland waterways, reaffirmed the Authority’s resolve to protect lives and improve safety standards in marine transportation.

According to him, since the appointment of the current management in October 2023 by President Bola Tinubu, NIWA has implemented several far-reaching reforms and initiatives aimed at reducing accidents on the waterways.

The NIWA boss recalled that within the first six months of the administration, the long-awaited Water Transportation Code was gazetted and launched to regulate operators, passengers, and users of the waterways.

Within the same period, the Authority also inaugurated fifteen new operational assets, including patrol boats, water ambulances, survey boats and passenger ferries, while commissioning new facilities such as the NIWA Clinic and administrative building at its headquarters in Lokoja to improve efficiency. To enforce compliance, the Authority deployed Water Marshals, which have increased from 80 personnel at inception to 350 across the country.

Passenger safety has been enhanced by introducing a manifest system at recognised jetties to improve record-keeping. Water Marshals also strictly enforce the “No Lifejacket, No Boarding” regulation. In addition, the Search and Rescue Stations reactivation has reduced NIWA’s emergency response time to less than 30 minutes. The Authority has also taken its safety awareness campaigns to loading points and jetties, reaching more than 300 communities in 2025 alone. Periodic campaigns in local languages complement these grassroots engagements on radio, television, newspapers and digital platforms.

On the technical side, Oyebamiji explained that NIWA has intensified channel maintenance for safer navigation. Marine navigational buoys have been installed on the Lower and Upper Niger, while hydrographic surveys and profiling have been completed from Warri to Baro Port, covering 624 kilometres. The Authority continues to remove aquatic waste, logs and wrecks from waterways to further enhance navigability.

Collaboration with subnational governments has also been strengthened. In October 2024, NIWA convened a stakeholders’ meeting with state transportation commissioners and other maritime stakeholders in Abuja to deliberate on measures to eliminate boat accidents. That meeting produced a communique outlining responsibilities for both federal and state governments. According to the Managing Director, some states have already started acting on these commitments by providing ferries and lifejackets to their citizens, with Niger State standing out as a prime example.

Oyebamiji commended the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, for his unwavering support. In the last four months alone, the Ministry has helped NIWA distribute over 45,000 standard lifejackets across twelve states, while also leading state-level safety campaigns in Niger and Bayelsa.

Looking ahead, NIWA intends to deepen collaboration with the Marine Police and the Nigerian Navy, especially in enforcing the ban on overloading, night sailing between 6 pm and 6 am, and compulsory use of lifejackets. Mr. Oyebamiji disclosed that NIWA’s initiatives have already reduced accidents and deaths on the waterways by more than 70 per cent compared to previous years, but stressed that more can still be done. He reiterated the Authority’s call for establishing Coastal Guards for Inland Waterways, describing it as an essential enforcement tool that would significantly strengthen NIWA’s safety drive.

As part of immediate measures, NIWA has placed an outright ban on all loading activities from unauthorised points across the country, insisting that only recognised and registered jetties may be used. All commercial operators are mandated to provide lifejackets for passengers, while every boat must clearly display its name and load line. Unlicensed boats and watercraft will be removed from the waterways, while unlicensed drivers and operators are prohibited from carrying out any operations. The Authority has also called on riverine states to partner with NIWA in safety campaigns, training of operators, procurement and distribution of lifejackets, provision of landing platforms and deployment of modern ferries.

In his closing remarks, Oyebamiji described the safety of Nigerians on the waterways as a national duty requiring the collective efforts of all stakeholders. “Based on the innovations and renewed commitment to our mandates, we have reduced waterway accidents and deaths by more than 70 per cent. But we must do more. Establishing Coastal Guards and deepening collaboration with states and security agencies will help us achieve an accident-free waterway system,” he said.