Life Jacket: Federal Safety Measures Save Lives in Niger State Boat Mishap

Harboursandport.com: Lagos, Nigeria - August 11, 2025: The Niger State Ministry of Transportation has commended the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA for their recent donation of 3,700 life jackets, a move credited with saving lives during a recent boat accident.

During a press briefing on Monday, held as part of a fact-finding mission into boat mishaps across Nigeria, Niger State Commissioner for Transport, Hajia Hadiza Idris Kuta—represented by Permanent Secretary Lucky Barau—confirmed that the donated life jackets had been distributed to boat operators across all 17 water-connected local government areas in the state.

🛟 “In a recent boat mishap, every passenger survived because they were wearing life jackets,” Barau stated, highlighting the life-saving impact of the initiative.

The Commissioner praised NIWA Managing Director Bola Oyebamiji for his leadership in transforming inland waterway transportation nationwide. She emphasized the strong collaboration between the state and federal agencies, which has significantly improved safety standards.

🚫 To further enhance safety, the Niger State government has implemented several measures:

Banned night-time travel and boat overcrowding

Distributed fibre boats to replace traditional wooden vessels

Initiated contracts to expand safety infrastructure

Planned deployment of water marshals to enforce life jacket use and prevent overloading

🛶 “The governor has already provided eight fibre boats as a starting point, and we’re working toward acquiring water ambulances,” she added.

The Commissioner also stressed that wearing a life jacket is now mandatory for boarding any boat in the state. “We’ve found that many passengers resist wearing life jackets, so we’re recruiting water marshals to ensure compliance,” she said.

With these proactive steps, Niger State is setting a new standard for inland waterway safety, aiming to drastically reduce fatalities and improve transport reliability for riverine communities.