The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) has submitted a detailed memorandum to the newly formed Committee on the Review of Incessant Boat Mishaps in Nigeria’s Inland Waterways.
The committee, established by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has been tasked with addressing safety concerns and administrative inefficiencies within the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).
In a press statement shared with our correspondent by Forward Eugene Nweke, the Head of Research at SEREC, the organisation described the formation of the committee as a timely and essential response to the frequent boat accidents that have plagued Nigeria’s inland waterways.
The memorandum, which draws from SEREC’s firsthand research along the Ikorodu-Badagry inland water channels, includes insights gained from consultations with local monarchs and community leaders. It highlights several key challenges affecting waterway safety and administration.
One of the primary concerns identified by SEREC is inadequate dredging, which has severely limited the navigability of many waterways. This issue not only poses a direct safety risk to commercial boat operations but also hampers the economic potential of Nigeria’s inland waterways, the organisation notes.
SEREC also raised concerns about the management of water hyacinth, an invasive plant that continues to obstruct waterways and pose significant risks to navigation. While the organisation acknowledged efforts to harvest and process the plant for agricultural purposes, it stressed the need for a more sustainable and environmentally responsible management approach.
Further challenges highlighted include the variations in water levels, currents, and depths, which complicate navigation and threaten safety. SEREC has called for a thorough assessment of these topographic issues to inform more effective mitigation strategies.
Another critical point raised in the memorandum is the capacity and expertise of NIWA’s workforce. SEREC stressed that the successful implementation of safety reforms hinges on the effectiveness of NIWA’s staff and recommended that the committee prioritise training and resource allocation to strengthen the authority’s workforce.
SEREC also recognised the ongoing transition from wooden boats to fibre and aluminium vessels as a positive development. However, the organisation cautioned that the new vessels must meet safety standards and that potential impacts on the workforce should be addressed.
The memorandum proposed several actionable recommendations, including the creation of a comprehensive dredging plan, the implementation of a sustainable water hyacinth management strategy, and the provision of targeted training and resources to enhance NIWA’s operational capacity. SEREC also urged the committee to develop region-specific interventions, particularly for the northern and central regions, which present unique geographical and usage challenges.
In addition, SEREC recommended that the committee review reports and recommendations from previous committees, as these may offer valuable insights and help accelerate the review process. The organisation also suggested extending the committee’s 21-day timeline to one month to ensure a thorough and comprehensive examination of the issues at hand.
SEREC expressed hope that the committee’s work, guided by these recommendations, could substantially reduce the frequency of boat accidents and enhance the overall efficiency of Nigeria’s inland waterway transport system.
The organisation stressed that the maritime sector has high expectations for the committee’s findings and urged its members to deliver a robust, practical plan that prioritises safety, regional considerations, and environmental sustainability