The Federal Government has unveiled new safety measures aimed at enhancing security across Nigeria’s waterways, including the compulsory use of life jackets and the gradual elimination of unsafe wooden boats.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, disclosed the initiatives at a marine safety awareness stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House Multipurpose Hall in Minna, Niger State.
Oyetola emphasised the urgent need to prioritise lives, insisting that life jackets are now mandatory and that dilapidated, rickety boats must be phased out completely.
During the event, the Minister distributed 3,500 life jackets to stakeholders across 12 states, reinforcing the government’s commitment to fostering a safety-first culture. The meeting drew participants from various sectors, including boat operators, riverside community leaders, passengers, and water marshals from the National Inland Waterways Authority.