NIWA's empty rhetoric must give way to real action

Another boat has capsized, another mass burial is held, and another community is left in mourning. Yet, despite the recurring tragedies on Nigeria's waterways, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) continues to project an image of progress with statistics that seem disconnected from reality.

NIWA's claim of a 70% reduction in waterway accidents rings hollow when the number of fatalities remains alarmingly high. This year alone, 60 people have died in Niger State, adding to the grim toll of over 200 passengers who perished in a single boat capsizing in October 2024. These numbers represent farmers, traders, and breadwinners whose deaths are not mere accidents but avoidable crimes resulting from weak regulation and a failure of enforcement.

NIWA's Managing Director, Dr. Bola Oyebamiji, has championed a list of reforms since taking office in October 2023, including a new Water Transportation Code, an increase in Water Marshals from 80 to 350, and the distribution of life jackets. While these efforts sound revolutionary on paper, the ongoing tragedies on the water suggest they are more of an illusion than a reality for riverine communities.

The 70% reduction claim lacks transparency, as it is unclear what baseline year was used or if accidents at unregistered jetties are even included in the data. Without this clarity, statistics serve as propaganda rather than a foundation for effective policy.

The core of the problem lies in NIWA's failure to adapt its enforcement to Nigeria's socioeconomic realities. The "No Lifejacket, No Boarding" rule is difficult to enforce in impoverished villages where passengers and operators are under pressure to cut costs and ignore safety measures. 

Similarly, the ban on night sailing is routinely disregarded by traders who must travel after dark to reach markets, a reality that NIWA's policies fail to acknowledge.

The proposed solution of adding more Coastal Guards is an admission of weakness, suggesting that the current force of 350 Water Marshals is already insufficient to enforce existing rules.

To genuinely improve waterway safety, the solution must go beyond rhetoric and address the root causes of these tragedies. This requires massive investment in rural roads and bridges to reduce communities' sole reliance on water transport. 

It also requires the empowerment of local councils and traditional leaders to enforce safety rules, along with strong penalties and swift prosecutions for operators who overload vessels or violate safety protocols. 

Finally, there needs to be consistent funding for NIWA’s enforcement arm and the transparent publication of quarterly accident data so the public can verify whether progress is genuine.

Nigeria's waterways should not continue to be corridors of death. The lives lost are not mere statistics; they are citizens whose deaths are a national disgrace. NIWA must move beyond rehearsed statements and demonstrate tangible results that reflect a genuine commitment to the safety of all Nigerians.