By Abdullahi Lukman
The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, led by Minister Adegboyega Oyetola, has received a comprehensive report from the Special Committee on the Prevention of Boat Mishaps, chaired by the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji.
The 16-member committee submitted a detailed document containing 64 recommendations, including 17 key proposals aimed at improving safety on Nigeria’s inland waterways.
These proposals include the establishment of a Coastal Guard to enforce safety regulations, creation of a National Boat Design Policy to standardize vessel types, mandatory certification and training for boat operators, increased funding for NIWA, and the establishment of search and rescue stations in strategic locations.
The report was formally submitted in Abuja after the committee’s extended deliberations, which began following its inauguration on February 27, 2025. The committee exceeded its initial six-week mandate to ensure a thorough review and practical outcomes.
The submission comes in response to a series of fatal boat accidents across the country, prompting urgent calls for reform.
The recommendations are intended to close regulatory gaps, improve oversight, and enforce design and operational standards.
Minister Oyetola, while receiving the report, pledged the federal government’s full commitment to implementing the suggested reforms.
He described the current rate of boat mishaps as both unacceptable and preventable, stressing the importance of behavioral change among waterway users, particularly in the use of life jackets.
According to the minister, the federal government is set to phase out rickety boats commonly involved in accidents and replace them with safer alternatives.
He also announced the approval of a nationwide life jacket distribution initiative targeting riverine communities and urged state governments to align with federal efforts.
The report aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” reinforcing the administration’s goal to build a safe, regulated, and sustainable blue economy.
