Tragedies from boat mishaps in waterways across several states have exposed a marine transport safety crisis in the country, as many lives have been lost in preventable accidents in riverine communities.
In response to concerns over these recurring tragedies, state governments, agencies, and community leaders have intensified efforts to address the issue and prevent further loss of lives and property while making marine transportation safer.
For example, between June 2023 and now, Niger State has experienced 10 boat accidents on the Kaduna River in Shiroro to the Niger River around Kainji, Mokwa, and Katcha. The last boat mishap occurred in Zumba last week, claiming 13 lives. In total, these incidents in the state have resulted in no fewer than 253 deaths, including 154 women and 30 children.
Most of the survivors agreed they were not wearing life jackets, as mandated by the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA). One survivor of a boat mishap last year in Katcha, Shehu Mohammed, recounted, “We were returning from farm work around a community called Egbe in Kogi State at night, and none of us was wearing life jackets when the accident happened.
‘‘Our boat hit a submerged log, damaging part of the boat and allowing water to flood in. We were fortunate that no lives were lost, but none of us had life jackets.”
A community leader in Gbajibo, Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, where over 100 individuals were involved in a boat mishap in August 2023, Mohammed Tauheed, stated that he witnessed the accident that claimed no fewer than 40 lives, and that none of those on board were wearing life jackets.
This led the state government and NIWA to begin enforcing the mandatory wearing of life jackets before any passenger boards a boat in the state.
NIWA’s Area Manager, Mr. Akapo Adeboye, indicated that the organization has introduced penalties for non-compliance with safety regulations, including a fine of N50,000 for night travel and transporting hazardous or flammable materials, as well as excessive mining of sandbags.
Additional penalties include a N20,000 fine for overloading and dumping refuse into waterways, and a N10,000 fine for failing to use a life jacket, operating a boat without a valid license, or lacking a fire extinguisher.
He said, “We have observed that many boat operators lack adequate experience. To address this, NIWA is providing the necessary training to improve safety and protect lives and property.
42 Persons Died In Taraba
In Taraba State, at least 42 deaths, including women, children, and men, have been recorded due to boat mishaps at different locations in the state over the past two years. Investigations by LEADERSHIP Sunday revealed that on October 30, 2023, a boat carrying 100 people—mostly local traders, including women and children—capsized while returning from the Mayorenero fish market in Ardo-Kola Local Government, en route to Binnari in Karim-Lamido Local Government. Seventeen of the passengers died on the spot.
In November 2023, it was reported that over 20 fishermen lost their lives when a boat capsized around Anyiin in River Benue. Alhaji Jidda Suleiman, Chairman of Taraba State Water Transportation, stated that the incident happened between Chinkai in Benue and the Anyeci area of Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.
LEADERSHIP Sunday further learned that on July 25, 2025, at about 7 PM, a boat carrying vehicles and passengers trying to cross the collapsed bridge at River Namnai along the Jalingo-Wukari highway in Gasol Local Government Area of Taraba State capsized, killing five persons while also damaging several vehicles. Mallam Abdul Kaifa, one of the drivers, stated that there were no safety measures such as life jackets on the boat.
Although the Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (TSEMA), Dr. Echubeh Audu, did not answer her phone calls to explain how the state government provides safety at the river point, LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that TSEMA has been providing life jackets to boat drivers in the state.
In Kwara State, at least 208 individuals lost their lives due to four reported boat mishaps between September 2023 and May 2025. The four major boat accidents occurred in the riverine communities of Patigi and Kaiama Local Government Areas. The most recent boat mishap took place in May 2025 in the Gbajibo community, Kaiama Local Government Area, claiming 27 lives.
This incident followed another boat mishap in the same community on October 1, 2024, which resulted in 44 fatalities.
Another accident in September 2023 in the same Gbajibo community claimed the lives of 30 individuals. In Patigi, 107 people lost their lives when an overloaded boat capsized on June 12, 2024. Survivors and community leaders in the affected areas attribute the frequent boat mishaps to a lack of safety equipment and operators’ and passengers’ disregard for safety protocols.
Hon. Saidu Baba, the lawmaker representing the Kaiama district in the State House of Assembly, announced that the state government had provided three fiberglass boats and approximately 1,000 life jackets to the community as part of its efforts to ensure the safety of boat passengers.
He added that the Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPADEC) also donated two additional fiberglass boats. “To curb this trend, we have banned water travel after 6 PM and set up a seven-man committee to monitor enforcement. We discovered that most accidents usually occur in the evenings,” Baba stated.
The Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, remarked that, in addition to providing life jackets and fiberglass boats, the government is conducting enlightenment programs to sensitize people in riverine areas on the need to adhere to safety protocols, particularly the requirement to wear life jackets while traveling on water and avoid nighttime travel.
11 Dead in Delta
In Delta State, two boat mishaps have been reported in the last two years. In riverine states like Delta, where water-based travel and commerce are integral to daily life, 11 people have lost their lives while others were injured or remain missing.
The Nigerian Navy and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) suffered losses as six individuals, including two corps members, three naval personnel, and a civilian, died in a Navy gunboat mishap around the Escravos waterway in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
An official statement confirmed the incident involving the NNS Delta Epenal gunboat DE 24, which was carrying 15 people: nine naval personnel and six civilians. The vessel was en route to Arunton community, where the occupants were stationed, when the mishap occurred shortly after 7 PM, near a Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) facility.
Last year, five passengers died in a boat mishap at Bennett Island in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area. Six others were injured, 19 were rescued, and one person remained missing. A survivor reported that the ill-fated boat was returning from a burial ceremony when the unfortunate incident occurred.
The boat, with about 30 passengers on board, collided head-on with a submerged log in the waterway. According to sources, the boat capsized, throwing all passengers into the water.
Many could not swim and were not wearing life vests, leading to immediate drowning. “A toddler’s body was found floating in the creek hours after the tragic mishap,” one source noted.
Boat accidents, often compounded by non-compliance with basic safety precautions, remain a significant issue in the state. Survivor Oghenero Isisi disclosed that passengers often view life jackets as mere accessories rather than essential survival tools. He observed that many tragedies could have been averted if passengers had worn life jackets. “People see life jackets as a burden, not as lifesavers. Wearing a life jacket isn’t just about protecting yourself; it’s also about protecting those who love you,” he said.
Commissioner for the Directorate of Transport, Mr. Onoriode Agofure, reiterated that it is the responsibility of every boat operator and passenger to take the directive on wearing life jackets seriously.
He urged waterway users to adopt the slogan “No Life Jacket, No Entry” while appealing to transport unions, community leaders, and boat operators to lead by example and enforce compliance at the grassroots level.
As part of an ongoing campaign to reduce boat mishaps and promote a culture of safety on the waterways, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy handed over 3,500 life jackets to the Delta State Directorate of Transport. Dr. Mercy Ilori, Director of Maritime Services with the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, stated that there is a strategic move to enhance safety in water transportation across the country. “Promoting the use of life jackets is not just a policy; it is a public safety imperative,” she said.
Benue: 40 Boat Mishap Casualties Recorded in Two Years
In Benue State, a boat carrying 40 mourners returning from a burial in Logo Local Government Area capsized in River Buruku, resulting in 14 deaths while 26 passengers were rescued approximately two years ago.
In another incident, 26 traders, mostly women and children, lost their lives when a wooden boat capsized in the Benue River in Agatu Local Government Area in December 2024.
The victims were said to be traders returning to Odenyi in Nasarawa Toto LGA after attending the Ocholonya market when their boat capsized in the middle of the river after breaking in two.
A police source who spoke on the condition of anonymity reported that there have been no recent reports of boat mishaps across Benue rivers. However, he warned that the ongoing rainy season could result in fatal incidents if boat operators do not take precautionary measures.
Magdalene Iorchir, a survivor of one of the recorded boat accidents, narrated how she managed to survive. “Three of us went for a burial of our in-law in Logo, and as we were returning, we entered a boat that was filled to capacity with vehicles. In the middle of the river, the boat started to tilt, and people began to shout. I can’t precisely say what went wrong; however, from what others said, the boat capsized due to the weight of passengers and goods.”
When asked if she was wearing a life jacket, she replied that no one was provided with such gear, adding, “I don’t even know what it is. We all used our clothes. In the other boat with a roof—maybe that one is for wealthy people—some of them were wearing clothing that looked yellow, but I didn’t know what it was.”
She said she was rescued by a fisherman who helped passengers, but one of her sisters’ lifeless body was recovered the next day. Although our correspondent could not provide an exact number of boat mishaps in the last two years, a very reliable source noted that the major incidents in Agatu and River Buruku resulted in a total of 40 fatalities.
According to him, “In these mishaps, most of the casualties are usually women and children. In the Agatu incident, the traders were predominantly women involved in the fish business, many of whom were breastfeeding or pregnant.”
It has also been reported that many philanthropists and NGOs have donated life jackets to boat drivers across the state, but they are not utilized for reasons known only to them.
Many individuals who spoke to LEADERSHIP Sunday—including Ayange Tersagh, Manasseh Ogla, and Amina Ocheme—expressed the need for training for boat drivers to better understand the capacity limits for passengers and goods in each vessel.
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Udeme Edet, stated that she had recently been posted to the state and did not have access to such records.
Human Errors Cause Many Deaths in Bayelsa Mishaps
Boat accidents continue to claim lives in Bayelsa State, primarily attributed to what has been described as human errors and poor safety practices.
Experts suggest that many calamities could have been avoided if boat operators adhered to safety protocols, including using life jackets, avoiding overloading, and maintaining safe speeds.
In 2023, two major incidents shocked the state. In April of that year, the double-deck local boat MV Tari, carrying about 95 passengers, capsized near Iwokiri in Okoroma, resulting in the deaths of eight passengers, including children. Later that October, a journalist, Mr. Perry Tukuwei Jr., drowned in a boat accident while traveling with colleagues for a political campaign in Nembe.
From 2024 to July 2025, Bayelsa State recorded four boat mishaps, leading to 23 deaths and several injuries. The deadliest incident occurred in August 2024, when a wooden cargo boat caught fire and sank at Ezetu I in Southern Ijaw, killing approximately 20 individuals, most of whom were traders. Two weeks later, a speedboat capsized at Okubie, resulting in one fatality.
In 2025, two additional accidents were reported. In January, a police speedboat capsized near Agbura after hitting a submerged wreck, but all nine occupants survived. In April, a speedboat collided with a fishing canoe at Akede waterfront in Sagbama, killing a woman and a young girl. Records indicate that women and children constituted an estimated 12 of the 23 fatalities between 2024 and 2025.
Many survivors stated that the lack of life jackets and disregard for safety regulations exacerbated the death toll in these incidents. Mr. Jonathan Juri, a survivor, attributed the mishap to carelessness and speeding by the boat driver.
He urged passengers to always wear life jackets when traveling by water, emphasizing that most accidents are caused by human error.
Chairman of the Bayelsa State Maritime Workers Union, Comrade Ogoniba Ipigansi, highlighted key safety measures aimed at preventing boat accidents in the state’s waterways. He stated that a primary requirement is that all boats must carry life jackets before setting sail. He also noted that many accidents occur due to poor practices such as using tarpaulin during storms, reckless driving, overloading, and obstacles such as logs or metal debris in the water.
To enhance safety, he mentioned that the union has prohibited the use of tarpaulin and introduced a lighter and safer cover called “rangoon paper,” which he deemed more suitable during light rain.
Furthermore, the union has designated marked loading points to prevent boats from exceeding their passenger limits, and strict instructions have been given for boats not to sail during heavy rainfall or stormy conditions.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State government has confirmed its commitment to improving safety on the waterways. Deputy Governor Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo expressed concern over the frequent boat accidents leading to fatalities and announced the enforcement of stricter safety measures.
He mentioned that a special task force has been established to ensure boat operators comply with all safety regulations, warning that violators will be arrested and punished.
Sad Tales from Jigawa and Zamfara States
Between 2023 and 2025, the Jigawa State Police Command reported four separate boat accidents, resulting in a total of 21 fatalities, including three women, eight girls, and ten men. In Zamfara State, the only boat mishap recorded between 2024 and 2025 occurred in the Gummi Local Government Area on September 14, 2024.
The Executive Secretary of the Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency (ZEMA), Amb. Ahmed Bala, stated that the accident transpired when a boat carrying over 50 passengers, mostly farmers, capsized in the Bakin Kasuwar River. According to him, records available show that 12 passengers were rescued while the remaining individuals, which included women and children (about 41), were feared dead.
14 Die in Rivers Boat Mishaps
At least 14 individuals have died in various boat mishaps across the creeks and rivers in Rivers State over the past two years. Eleven passengers died during an accident along the Andoni-Bonny route in January 2024, while three others were killed in an accident on the Isaka River in 2025.
The Chairman of the Port Harcourt Commercial District of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Israel Waribo Pepple, commented on the unfortunate situation, stating that boat passengers and drivers have suffered greatly due to boat mishaps.
Pepple noted that the union has launched a “Passengers Liability Assurance Scheme” for boat passengers in the state. He explained, “The scheme was designed to provide for losses to passengers in case of accidents and unforeseen events along the waterways.
‘‘This is to assure passengers that their safety and comfort are of utmost importance to the union and help build their confidence to continue using our services.”
