By Joshua Yousouph
Findings by Shipping Position Daily have revealed that no fewer than 100 persons have died in boat mishaps during the first quarter of 2024. This is even as boat operators have urged the Federal Government to enact laws and enforce sanctions against passengers who fail to comply with waterway safety regulations.
Recall that the President of Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria, Barrister Mfon Usoro in a recent statement, disclosed that the institute investigated the incessant cases of boat mishaps in Nigeria and discovered that over 300 lives were lost on the waterways in 2023.
Available data gathered by our correspondent last week show that just within 15 days into the year 2024, three boat mishaps with over 25 deaths were recorded. On January 7, a wooden engine boat rammed into a snag on the water channel in Anambra State and capsized with about 50 passengers on board, leaving eight persons dead, while on January 10, no fewer than 20 people were feared dead in an accident involving two passenger boats travelling from Andoni to Bonny Island in Rivers State.
Similarly On January 15, a boat conveying 100 passengers including goods, grains and other valuables capsized in Niger State. According to Niger State Emergency Management Agency spokesman, Ibrahim Audu, eight passengers were confirmed dead and an estimated 100 were missing after their overloaded boat capsized in north-central Nigeria.
On 21st of February, a statement released by spokesperson for the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Wuraola Alake, confirmed one person dead in an accident that occurred when a ferry boat which had 17 passengers on board collided with a submerged shoreline concrete at a construction site around the power line corridor at the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge. According to Alake, 15 passengers were said to have been rescued during the incident.
Five days later, LASWA in the same vein on the 26th of February announced the death of three persons from a boat mishap in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State The 17-seater boat named Oluwaseyifunmi, loaded with 14 passengers was involved in an accident along the Ibeshe/Ikorodu channel enroute Ebute Ipakodo Ikorodu taken off from Addax jetty, Lagos.
Reacting to this, the National President of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), Alhaji Tarzan Gani Balogun emphasized the critical importance of not only having life jackets available, but also ensuring that passengers wear them properly before boarding boats.
Alhaji Balogun recounted instances when passengers were resistant to wearing life jackets, citing stubbornness and disregard for their own safety. In response to such behavior, Tarzan emphasized the need for strict enforcement measures for erring and recalcitrant passengers.
To address this issue, the ATBOWATON President urged the Federal Government to mandate the presence of life jackets for all passengers and enforce sanctions against those who fail to comply. He also called on the government to enforce stringent regulations regarding the use of life jackets by both operators and passengers.
While highlighting the broader implications of boat mishaps and their impact on public confidence in water transportation and the livelihoods of boat operators, Balogun emphasized the importance of protecting the lives of passengers and maintaining the integrity of water transportation services.
He also called for concerted efforts between government agencies and boat operators to enforce safety regulations effectively, thereby safeguarding lives and preserving the viability of the industry.
In his words: “I think the government should enforce and ensure that the people using the waterways, not only boat operators but also the passengers, must request for a life jacket whenever they want to use water transportation. It is one thing for the Law to be there, it is another for people to obey it.
“It is not only wearing the life jacket, but wearing it properly; because some of the passengers are very difficult and stubborn. Some of them will be telling you, what’s your business? Is it your life? And I used to say Heaven helps those who help themselves. We ensure that if they don’t want to wear the life jacket, they should go and collect back their fares. In fact, the life jacket is close to the Ticketer, where they pay and there is someone to ensure they wear the life jacket properly, before boarding the boat.
“It is the duty of the government to work with the boat operators and also to tell the passengers that if they are found on a boat without a life jacket, the government will enforce whatever sanctions that will be appropriate. I have seen a passenger that after entering the boat, he removed the life jacket. So we can imagine that if that person removes the life jacket and throws it into the water just to create a big problem for the boat operators what can you do?
On his part, the National Public Relations Officer of Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association of Nigeria Waters (WABOTAN), Chief Raymond Gold stressed on the importance of training and capacity building in enhancing water safety across Nigeria’s waterways.
Acknowledging the role of regulatory agencies, Gold credited regular training programmes in Lagos State with contributing to a reduction in boat mishaps and minimizing casualties when incidents occur. He emphasized the importance of equipping drivers with the skills to handle emergencies and rescue operations effectively, thereby mitigating risks and ensuring passenger safety.
Speaking on behalf of his organization, Gold revealed that recent training sessions had been conducted, with plans underway to host additional sessions later in the year. Moreover, he announced intentions to expand training programmes to other regions of the country, starting with littoral states and gradually extending to inland areas with water transportation services.
Expressing concern over the need for broader collaboration in promoting water safety, Gold stressed the importance of partnerships with stakeholders to extend training initiatives nationwide. He highlighted his association’s commitment to capacity building among drivers, emphasizing the unique emphasis placed on safety within the water transportation sector.
