Findings by Shipping Position Daily have revealed that despite tragic boat mishaps claiming 12 lives since the beginning of the year, the average cost of water transportation in Nigeria has remained relatively stable.
This is according to data obtained by our correspondent from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which indicates that the average fare for water transport increased to N1,402.84 in January 2024, up from N1,386.76 the previous month. This represents a modest increase of 1.16% on a monthly basis. However, the year-on-year comparison reveals a more significant uptick, with fares soaring by 35.82% from N1, 032.84 in January 2023.
Checks by our correspondent revealed that the string of accidents began on January 4, when a boat capsized on the Anambra River in Anambra state, resulting in eight deaths and 38 rescued individuals. Investigations revealed that the mishap was caused by a combination of factors including night travel, operator carelessness, and overloading.
Less than two weeks later, on January 15, another boat capsized near Wara market in Kebbi state. The exact number of casualties remained unknown.
Further checks revealed that in February another tragedy was recorded as a passenger ferry collided with a submerged object near the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge in Lagos state, resulting in one fatality and the rescue of 15 others.
Just days later, on February 26, a boat capsized in the Ibeshe/Ikorodu area of Lagos state, claiming the lives of three individuals and leaving 11 others stranded until rescue teams arrived. The cause of the accident is still under investigation, raising concerns about the adequacy of safety measures and emergency response capabilities in densely populated coastal areas.
Regional disparities are evident in the data obtained from the NBS, with the South-South region recording the highest average fare of N3,583.33, followed closely by the Delta region at N4,200.00. These figures reflect the significant role water transportation plays in connecting communities across the Niger Delta, where waterways serve as crucial arteries for commerce and travel. On the other end of the spectrum, states such as Borno and Adamawa report lower average fares, with Borno recording the lowest fare at N450.00. These differences highlight variations in demand, infrastructure, and accessibility across regions and states.
In response to the report, boat users in a chat with our correspondent expressed mixed reactions. While some acknowledged the importance of water transportation for their livelihoods, others expressed concerns about safety. One user, Ibrahim Aliyu, stated, “I rely on water transport for my business, but the recent accidents have made me to be more cautious. Safety should be a priority for operators.”
Another user, Maryam Yusuf voiced frustration, saying, “We depend on boats to travel, but its scary knowing that accidents can happen at any time. Authorities need to do more to ensure safety on the waterways. Incidents such as the capsizing on the Anambra River and the collision near the Lekki Ikoyi Link Bridge underscore the urgent need for enhanced safety measures, operator training, and infrastructure improvements to prevent further loss of life”.
In response to the rising cases of boat accidents claiming lives, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in a recent press briefing by its Lagos Area Manager, Engr. Sarat Braimah said it has mandated boat operators in the Lagos area to install speedometers, three lifebuoys, and a diver per boat for enhanced waterways safety while expressing dissatisfaction with their conduct and emphasizing the need for adherence to basic safety measures. She criticized operators for neglecting maintenance and highlighted the prevalence of boats exceeding their lifespan.
“Going forward, boats must have speedometers. This will enable laymen (passengers) to know when the boats are over speeding. We want to ensure that they have lifebuoys on the boat, so if there is an incident, lifebuoys can be thrown into the water for the victims.”
“Most passengers wear lifejacket but take it off when they are on the boat. There must be a life-saver (diver), that is, someone that can swim, apart from the captain. We call them lifeguards on the boat in case of accidents.”
“From these two accidents that have happened this year, we’ve been able to analyse our investigations and we saw that most are by human errors. I mean maintenance of the boat itself because most of them have faulty engines.”
“At Ikorodu, we inspected and approved ten boats yesterday and only those approved will be allowed to operate for now. All other boats have been instructed to move to our base at Ikorodu for inspection. Most of them are single hall boats that cannot withstand stress. Over 75 percent of the boats aren’t seaworthy; they are scraps,” Braimah regretted.
