The Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) has expressed concern over the rising cases of boat accidents on Nigeria’s inland waterways and the growing menace of drug abuse, narcotics smuggling, and counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
The Head of Research at SEREC, Dr Eugene Nweke, while presenting a position paper on Tuesday in Lagos, called for urgent institutional reforms, stronger enforcement, and greater community participation to tackle the crises.
According to Nweke, the twin challenges are major threats to national safety, economic growth, and human development.
He said in spite of the Nigeria’s vast inland waterways, recurring accidents in Lagos, Niger, Kebbi, Anambra, and Rivers states had continued to cause preventable deaths and property losses, eroding public confidence in water transportation.
Nweke blamed weak enforcement, untrained operators, and the absence of navigational aids for the rising fatalities.
He also identified overlapping responsibilities among the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Marine Police, and State Waterways Authorities as well as poor maintenance culture and unsafe, overloaded boats as key factors aggravating the problem.
The SEREC research head recommended compulsory registration and licensing of all boats, the establishment of an independent Marine Accident Investigation Board, and mandatory certification and retraining of operators.
He further proposed the installation of solar-powered buoys, regular dredging of waterways, and the deployment of digital tracking systems to enhance monitoring and rescue operations.
“Nigeria must strengthen collaboration between NIWA, LASWA, Marine Police, and local councils under a unified Water Transport Safety Task Force. Shared data systems and constant public sensitisation on lifejacket use are essential,” Nweke said.
On drug abuse and narcotics smuggling, Nweke described the situation as a national emergency undermining youth development, public health, and internal security.
He attributed the surge to porous borders, corruption, weak surveillance, and low institutional capacity within the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
To address the issue, SEREC boss recommended the deployment of modern scanning technologies, improved intelligence sharing, the establishment of special narcotics courts, and a centralised national drug-tracking system to monitor the movement of pharmaceuticals.
He, therefore, urged the government to adopt a health-based approach through expanded rehabilitation centers, drug education in schools, and psychosocial support for addicts, alongside stronger collaboration with ECOWAS, UNODC, and neighboring countries.
“Government and stakeholders must embrace preventive governance, prioritise safety and accountability, and take collective action to restore public confidence and build a safer, healthier Nigeria,” Nweke added.
