About 92 passengers reportedly lost their lives in boat accidents across Nigeria between January and August 2025, despite the Federal Government’s efforts to enhance safety on the nation’s waterways.
The accidents occurred in several states, including Rivers, Niger, Sokoto, Kwara, and Zamfara.
This came as the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, appealed to states to phase out wooden boats, stressing in a statement on Sunday that incidents of boat mishaps had persisted largely due to the widespread use of these wooden boats.
The minister, while commiserating with victims of the recent boat incident in the Jaranja River, appealed to states to phase out wooden boats. The minister, in a statement on Sunday through his media aide, Dr Bolaji Akinola, described the tragedy as deeply painful, even as he extended heartfelt condolences on behalf of the Federal Government to all those affected.
The Osun State former governor reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to prioritising waterways safety, while appealing to state governments to urgently complement these efforts by investing in modern, non-wooden boats for commercial operations in their states.
