NIWA Rolls Out Tougher Safety Directives After Boat Mishap, Boasts 70% Drop in Waterway Accidents
Kathy Kyari
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has unveiled a fresh set of safety measures aimed at tightening enforcement and improving marine transportation across the country.
Managing Director of NIWA, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, announced the new directives on Monday during a press conference in Abuja convened in response to concerns raised by the recent boat mishap.
Oyebamiji reaffirmed the Authority’s determination to safeguard lives and boost safety standards on Nigeria’s waterways. He noted that since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed the current management in October 2023, NIWA has implemented several reforms designed to curb accidents.
According to him, one of the landmark achievements within the administration’s first six months was the gazetting and launch of the long-awaited Water Transportation Code, providing a regulatory framework for operators, passengers, and other users of the waterways.
He further disclosed that NIWA had commissioned 15 new operational assets, including patrol boats, survey boats, passenger ferries, and water ambulances, in addition to new facilities such as the NIWA Clinic and administrative headquarters in Lokoja. To bolster enforcement, Water Marshals were deployed nationwide, growing from 80 at inception to 350 officers today.
Passenger safety, Oyebamiji added, has been strengthened through the introduction of a manifest system at recognised jetties and the strict enforcement of the “No Lifejacket, No Boarding” rule.
The Authority also reactivated Search and Rescue Stations, reducing emergency response times to less than 30 minutes. More than 300 riverine communities have been reached through grassroots sensitisation campaigns in 2025, complemented by awareness drives in local languages across radio, television, print, and digital platforms.
On technical improvements, NIWA has intensified channel maintenance, installing marine navigational buoys on the Lower and Upper Niger and completing hydrographic surveys covering 624 kilometres from Warri to Baro Port. The Authority has also continued clearing wrecks, logs, and aquatic waste from waterways. Collaboration with subnational governments has been strengthened as well.
Oyebamiji recalled that NIWA convened a stakeholder meeting with state transport commissioners and maritime operators in October 2024, which produced a communique assigning safety responsibilities to both federal and state governments. Some states, he said, have already begun acting on their commitments, citing Niger State as a prime example for providing ferries and lifejackets to citizens.
The NIWA chief also commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, for his support. He revealed that in the last four months alone, the Ministry had facilitated the distribution of more than 45,000 lifejackets across 12 states and spearheaded safety campaigns in Niger and Bayelsa States.
Looking ahead, Oyebamiji said NIWA intends to deepen collaboration with the Marine Police and the Nigerian Navy to enforce regulations, including the ban on overloading, night sailing between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., and compulsory use of lifejackets.
He stressed that the Authority’s initiatives have already yielded results, reducing accidents and fatalities on the waterways by over 70 percent compared to previous years. However, he emphasised that more must be done and called for the creation of Coastal Guards for inland waterways as a critical enforcement tool.
As part of immediate directives, NIWA has banned loading activities from unauthorised points, insisting that only registered and recognised jetties may be used. All commercial operators are required to provide lifejackets, ensure their boats clearly display names and load lines, and obtain proper licensing. Unlicensed boats and operators, he warned, will be removed from the waterways.
He also urged riverine states to partner in safety campaigns, training of operators, and the provision of lifejackets, landing platforms, and modern ferries.
“The safety of Nigerians on the waterways is a national duty requiring the collective efforts of all stakeholders,” Oyebamiji said. “Based on the innovations and renewed commitment to our mandates, we have reduced waterway accidents and deaths by more than 70 percent. 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.”
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