Jamoh demands urgent safety reforms, investment in waterways infrastructure

Former director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh, has called for collaboration among regulatory authorities, private stakeholders and government to enforce safety measures, invest in infrastructure and create a safer future for waterway users in Nigeria.

Jamoh also proposed the immediate formation of a joint NIMASA and Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to tackle maritime accidents. Jamoh made the call following the tragic incident, where at least 54 bodies have been recovered from the River Niger in a that boat capsize in Kogi State, with dozens still missing.

He emphasised the urgent need for stricter enforcement of safety regulations, including the mandatory use of life jackets and a prohibition on night operations.

“We cannot continue to fold our hands while fellow citizens die through preventable circumstances,” he said. Jamoh proposed other solutions to include enforcing existing regulations by identifying gaps in safety standards and proposing new, risk-based solutions as well as establishing strategically located facilities and training personnel for emergency response.

He also proposed ensuring only seaworthy boats, piloted by certified operators, are allowed to ply Nigerian waterways and ducating boat operators and passengers on safety protocols, including understanding weather forecasts and the importance of life jackets.

Jamoh also called on the government to invest in modern, safer boats and establish training centers in regions reliant on water transport. He said private jetty operators should enforce operational time limits to prevent nighttime navigation, when visibility is poor.

Jamoh further expressed profound sorrow over the recurring fatalities, calling for immediate action to address the preventable causes of these disasters.

According to him, this tragedy is one of many that have plagued Nigeria’s inland waterways, with over 2,500 lives lost in boat accidents in the past four years.