Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to waterway safety, Dr. Oyetola disclosed that the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has continued to roll out interventions aimed at reducing accidents. He cited the distribution of 35,000 life jackets by the Ministry to riverine states in 2025 as part of efforts to enhance safety consciousness and preparedness.
“Despite these interventions, we are still witnessing boat mishaps, largely because of the persistent use of unsafe wooden boats,” the Minister noted. “This is why we are appealing to state governments to urgently complement federal efforts by investing in modern, non-wooden boats for commercial operations in their states and provide standard life jackets for all water transport passengers in their domains.”
He emphasised that ensuring safety on Nigeria’s waterways requires collective action and political will at all levels of government.
“Water transportation is a critical component of our blue economy,” Oyetola said. “But it must be safe, regulated and sustainable. Together, we can put an end to these avoidable tragedies and protect the lives of our citizens
