The Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Honourable Adegboyega Oyetola, for his decision to phase out wooden boats from operating on Nigeria’s waterways as part of efforts to reduce the rising incidence of fatal boat accidents.
The President General of MWUN, Comrade Francis Bunu Abi , described the minister’s pronouncement as timely and necessary, noting that incessant boat mishaps have continued to claim the lives of passengers annually due to widespread disregard for safety regulations.
According to the union, the minister expressed strong concern over what he described as negligence, carelessness and poor compliance with established safety standards by boat operators and passengers. Comrade Bunu recalled that government safety regulatory agencies had repeatedly warned against night-time water transportation beyond 6:00 p.m., overloading of boats, and failure to wear life jackets regulations that are often flouted by both operators and commuters.
The MWUN leader said many of the deaths recorded on Nigerian waterways could have been avoided if basic safety rules were observed. He stressed that the minister’s action was aimed at curbing avoidable loss of lives caused by what he described as the insensibility of some boat drivers and passengers who consistently ignore safety measures.
Comrade Bunu noted that water transportation has the potential to be one of the safest, fastest and most convenient means of movement, especially in reducing pressure on congested roads, if operators adhered strictly to safety guidelines. However, he lamented that the sector has been plagued by reckless and unlawful practices, including night travel, overloading, excessive speeding and the use of rickety, unseaworthy wooden boats.
He said the continued use of dilapidated and unsafe boats, coupled with the refusal of operators to comply with regulations, has caused untold pain to families who have lost loved ones in avoidable accidents. According to him, these persistent violations have made decisive government intervention inevitable.
While supporting the plan to phase out wooden boats, the Bunu also called on the federal government to extend enforcement efforts to operators of fibre boats, noting that excessive speed and unsafe practices among some of them also contribute significantly to accidents on the waterways.
He urged regulatory agencies to enforce existing laws without fear or favour, adding that boat owners and drivers found violating safety regulations should be appropriately sanctioned to ensure a safer and more orderly water transportation system across the country.
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