Harboursandport.com: Ogun State, Nigeria – July 8, 2025 As part of a national campaign to improve safety on Nigeria’s inland waterways, the Federal Government has donated 3,500 life jackets to the Ogun State Government for distribution to verified waterway operators.
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| L-R: Head of Marine Services, NIWA Lagos, Elsie Egwuatu; National President, ATBOWATON, Ganiyu Balogun; Director, Maritime Services, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mercy Ilori; Ogun State Commissioner for Transportation, Gbenga Dario; Chairman, Ogun State House Committee on Transport, Ayodele Wasiu; and the Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Commissioner of Transportation, Aderonke Tokunbo-Peters; during the hand over of 3500 life-jackets by Federal Government to Ogun State on Tuesday. |
The donation was made by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who was represented by Mercy Ilori, Director of Maritime Services. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to reduce fatalities from boat accidents and promote a culture of safety across Nigeria’s riverine communities.
⚓ National Safety Strategy
The Minister highlighted three pillars of the government’s waterway safety plan:
Strict enforcement of the Inland Waterways Transportation Regulations 2023
Public education and sensitization on safety practices
Provision of critical safety equipment, including life jackets
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) plays a central role in enforcing these measures.
🗣 Ogun State’s Commitment
Governor Dapo Abiodun, represented by Commissioner for Transportation Engr. Gbenga Dairo, pledged equitable distribution of the jackets and emphasized that “safety on waterways is a right, not a privilege.” He assured that Ogun would support marine safety and develop inland waterways as a secure alternative to road transport.
⚠️ Tragic Context
NIWA’s Managing Director, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji (represented by Engr. Elsie Egwuatu), cited past tragedies—including the 2023 and 2024 boat mishaps in Niger State that claimed hundreds of lives—as stark reminders of the need for safety compliance. He stressed that over 90% of waterway accidents are due to human error, often involving overloading, night travel, and lack of life jackets.
🚤 Industry Response
Alhaji Tarzan Balogun, President of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), praised the initiative and called for stricter enforcement:
“There must be a firm policy—no life jacket, no entry.”
He also urged Ogun State to establish a dedicated waterways authority and invest in infrastructure like jetties.
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