The agency warns boat operators against unsafe vessels, overloading and unlicensed operations during its water transportation sensitisation campaign at Liverpool and Marina jetties.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has intensified efforts to improve water transportation safety in Lagos, warning boat operators to comply with safety regulations, maintain their vessels and ensure passengers wear life jackets.
The warning was issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, during the authority’s water transportation sensitisation campaign at Liverpool and Marina jetties, where operators and passengers were reminded of their responsibilities in preventing accidents on the waterways.
Speaking during the exercise, the Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Engr. Sarat Braimah, represented by the Head of Marine Department, NIWA Lagos Area Office, Engineer Elsie Egwatu, said many waterway accidents resulted from human error, making regular safety education and strict enforcement essential to protecting lives.
Egwatu said the campaign was designed to reinforce existing safety rules among boat operators and passengers, noting that both groups played critical roles in ensuring safe transportation. She expressed optimism that improved compliance could substantially reduce accidents on the waterways.
Addressing concerns about boats operating in poor condition, she said NIWA had strengthened its inspection regime beyond the annual registration and inspection requirements stipulated by law. According to her, the authority now conducts quarterly inspections of smaller boats because they are more susceptible to wear and tear.
She added that NIWA would continue to impound boats whose operators failed to comply with registration and inspection requirements, stressing that enforcement remained necessary to ensure adherence to established safety standards.
Egwatu disclosed that the sensitisation campaign covered several jetties across Lagos, including Marina; Elegbata; Ebute Ojo Jetty; Ikorodu (Ipakodo); Badore Terminal; Ijegun-Egba Jetty; Ilashe Jetty; Bayeku Jetty; Offin Jetty; Ito-Omu Jetty; Isalu-Ajido Jetty; Sagbokoji and Oyingbo. She said the exercise was part of the authority’s continuous efforts to promote responsible conduct among water transportation stakeholders.
On the training and licensing of boat operators, the NIWA official said the authority would intensify enforcement after allowing operators sufficient time to comply. She explained that the initial training costs ₦95,000 per operator, while subsequent licensing costs ₦16,000 and remains valid for three years before renewal.
The campaign also addressed environmental sanitation, with Egwatu acknowledging concerns about passengers throwing sachet water wrappers and other waste into the waterways. She said an initiative was underway to provide waste bins at jetties to discourage indiscriminate dumping and promote cleaner waterways.
On overloading, she said NIWA would continue to enforce passenger limits and other operational requirements, urging stakeholders to report violations. She emphasised that sustained collaboration between the authority, boat operators and passengers was necessary to improve safety and streamline water transportation.
One of the operators at Liverpool Jetty, Odafe, popularly known as King Jerry, said he had worked in the marine transportation sector for years, driven by his passion for the profession and his upbringing in a riverside community.
King Jerry, who said he had worked with several marine operators, urged NIWA to provide more practical guidance for boat drivers, particularly those unfamiliar with safe navigation routes. He said improved orientation would help operators understand the waterways and reduce avoidable risks.
He described the availability and proper use of life jackets as essential safety measures, explaining that he required passengers boarding his speedboat to wear life jackets before entering the vessel. He also urged his colleagues to take their responsibilities seriously and develop a stronger commitment to their profession.
The operator said passengers must remain seated in designated positions and obey the captain’s instructions throughout a journey. He maintained that safe operations required properly maintained boats, appropriate safety equipment and discipline among everyone on board.
The campaign comes amid continuing efforts to strengthen safety standards across Lagos waterways, where boats provide an important means of transportation. NIWA’s emphasis on inspections, operator training, licensing, environmental responsibility and enforcement underscores the need for collective action to reduce accidents and protect passengers.
