The House of Representatives has directed the Ministries of Marine and Blue Economy, and that of Transportation to conduct a thorough investigation into the recent boat mishaps in Nigeria, provide insights and recommendations on improving maritime safety.
The House also charged the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to enforce safety regulations and ensure compliance with international maritime standards.
These resolutions followed the motion brought before the House by the member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, Rep. Unyime Idem, on the “Urgent Need to investigate the incessant boat mishaps in Nigeria’s waterways.”
Rep. Idem, who chairs the House Committee on Public Procurement, noted with dismay that Nigeria has witnessed a disturbing surge in boat mishaps in recent times, resulting in the tragic loss of numerous lives, citing the most recent incident, which occurred on November 29, 2024, along the Dambo-Ebuchi waterways of the River Niger in Kupa Local Government Area of Kogi state.
The tragic incident involved over 160 passengers, with only 24 rescued, while 54 were confirmed dead, and an unknown number still unaccounted for.
According to the lawmaker, the Kogi boat mishap marks the third passenger boat accident in Nigeria within a span of just 60 days.
“On October 3, 2024, a wooden dugout canoe carrying approximately 300 passengers capsized and sank in the River Niger, resulting in the loss of nearly 200 lives. Just last week, a collision between two boats in Delta State, southern Nigeria, claimed the lives of five people. The reoccurrence of these devastating incidents, culminating in the recent Kupa boat mishap in Kogi State, underscores the urgent need for improved maritime safety measures in Nigeria,” he explained.
Idem said maritime experts have identified a number of critical factors contributing to the alarming frequency of boat accidents in Nigeria to include inadequate boat maintenance and poor design, overloading, lack of essential safety equipment and emergency response plans, insufficient training for boat operators, and lack of strict regulatory enforcement.
He berated NIMASA and NIWA, who are responsible for enforcing safety regulations in the maritime sector, for negating their primary responsibilities of ensuring the safety of passengers, to focus on revenue generation.
The lawmaker expressed worry that the recent surge in boat accidents has raised concerns about the safety of Nigeria’s waterways and the need for urgent intervention, stressing that “if nothing is done to improve safety and emergency response systems, Nigerians will continue to face psychological trauma, economic losses, and untimely deaths.”
Members during plenary observed a minute silence for the departed souls in the unfortunate Boat mishaps.