Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, has reiterated his demand that state governments nationwide outlaw the use of wooden boats for commercial transportation on waterways and replace them with safer fibre and aluminium vessels. In order to reduce the frequency of boat accidents on Nigeria's inland waterways, the Federal Government has distributed 35,000 life jackets to riverine states throughout the nation as part of its waterway safety intervention for 2025. State governments have also been urged to phase out wooden boats used for commercial water transportation.
Bolaji Akinola, Oyetola's special adviser, signed a press release announcing this on Sunday. Oyetola made the statement in response to a slew of recent boat mishaps that claimed numerous lives and left families in various communities in mourning.
The minister cautioned against travelling at night due to low visibility and increased risks on the water and asked waterway users to emphasize safety by adhering to established safety requirements.
"The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has renewed his call on state governments across the federation to urgently ban the use of wooden boats for commercial water transportation and instead invest in safer, modern fibre and aluminium boats," the statement said.
He also urged travellers to insist on wearing high-quality life jackets before boarding any ship. “Waterway users must refuse to board rickety or overloaded boats. “No journey is worth risking your life. Avoid night travels, wear life jackets, and prioritize safety above all else.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost their loved ones. “These recurring tragedies are painful and unacceptable, and they underscore the urgent need to address the root causes of waterway accidents in the country,” he said.
According to Oyetola, the main causes of accidents on Nigeria's inland waterways are the country's ongoing reliance on dangerous, badly maintained wooden boats and its disregard for safety laws.
He clarified that a large number of the vessels in service today are poorly built and susceptible to structural breakdown, particularly when overloaded. “Wooden boats deteriorate quickly due to constant exposure to water, leading to cracks, leakages, and eventual collapse.