NIWA Intensifies Push to Phase Out Wooden Boats, Boost Safer Water Transport

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has intensified efforts to phase out the use of wooden boats across the country’s waterways as part of measures aimed at improving safety and reducing boat mishaps.

The Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Engr. Sarat Braimah, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by members of the 2026 Dockworkers’ Day Committee of the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN) to her office in Lagos.

Braimah said the move aligns with the safety vision of the Acting Managing Director of NIWA, Alhaji Yusuf Girei, who has directed the authority to strengthen campaigns on waterways safety nationwide.

According to her, safety remains the top priority of the management, stressing that the agency is committed to ensuring that passengers and operators comply with established safety measures.

“I assure you that safety is the keyword of the Acting Managing Director of NIWA, Alhaji Yusuf Girei. He wants all water users to be safe. We have been directed to campaign massively this month so that people will be aware that we must not record any boat mishap,” she said.

She noted that sustained awareness campaigns by NIWA have contributed significantly to the improved level of sanity currently being witnessed on Lagos waterways.

Braimah explained that passengers have become more safety-conscious, with many now insisting that fellow commuters wear life jackets before boats depart jetties.

“People are now more aware. You even see passengers calling NIWA to report that someone sitting beside them is not wearing a life jacket. Our awareness campaigns and constant engagement have gone a long way,” she stated.

The NIWA Area Manager noted that regular inspections of boats by the agency’s Marine Department have also contributed to improving safety standards on inland waterways.

“Every quarter, the Marine Department inspects boats. So, you hardly see boats on the waterways that are not in good condition,” she added.

Speaking on plans to eliminate wooden boats, Braimah disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is supporting efforts to replace them with safer alternatives.

According to her, the transition would be gradual to avoid disrupting the livelihoods of operators who depend on wooden boats for transportation and commercial activities.

“The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy wants us to phase out wooden boats. We are working on this, but it is not something that can happen overnight. We have to meet operators halfway while safer boats are being introduced gradually,” she explained.

Braimah further revealed that the government plans to invest more in modern boats through the current budget, which would accelerate the transition process.

On revenue generation, she said NIWA has consistently surpassed its targets, revealing that the authority has doubled the revenue it generated three years ago.

“Three years ago, we doubled what we generated in that period. We are always meeting and surpassing our revenue targets,” she said.