TheCable

While boat mishaps are no longer strange in Nigeria, 2023 took on a different dimension as many waterway accidents were recorded throughout the year. From Lagos, Kebbi, Taraba, and Niger to Anambra, these states witnessed recurrent cases of boat mishaps.

Over 300 lives were lost to boat accidents across the country in 2023, with Kwara and Anambra states recording the most deaths. The mishaps were blamed on various reasons, including overloading, faulty engines, and lack of life jackets.

Life jackets displayed on the floor of Bille Jetty, Port-Harcourt, Rivers state

In October, a two-part investigation by TheCable revealed how regulatory failure is turning Nigeria’s waterways into death traps. You can read the stories here and here.

Below is a timeline of reported boat accidents across the country between January and December.

It all started on January 3 when a boat carrying over 100 rice farmers — mostly youths — capsized in Koko/Nesse LGA of Kebbi state, killing ten farmers.

The boat was conveying the farmers to Samanaji, a riverine community in the area, when the incident occurred.

February 20: A commercial boat with 17 passengers capsized near the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos state.

All the passengers were rescued.

April 23: Not less than five people died in a boat accident at Kanwa Dam in Madobi LGA of Kano state. Six others, who were unconscious, were rescued by the Kano State Fire Service.

May 10: Seventeen people were confirmed dead in a boat accident in Dandeji village, Shagari LGA of Sokoto state.

A capsized boat

The boat was reportedly carrying over 40 girls and boys who went to fetch firewood at a nearby bush before it capsized.

June 7: Five people who went to buy seafood at a local market in Ugbo-Nla of Ilaje LGA Ondo state lost their lives in a boat mishap.

The deaths of the victims were attributed to their failure to wear life jackets while travelling by sea. The lone survivor of the accident, who wore a life jacket, was rescued.

June 13: In another accident, over 100 people died after the boat conveying them capsized in Egbu village, in the Patigi LGA of Kwara state.

The victims, including women and children, were said to be returning from a wedding event in Egboti, a community in Niger state. The boat was reportedly overloaded.

The Nigeria Inland Waterway Authority had said the boat mishap was due to avoidable human error. NIWA had said the passengers were without life jackets and that the boat’s engine was weak.

Following the incident, the Kwara government committed to improving the safety of water transportation in the state by deploying 1,000 life jackets to boat operators.

June 24: About 12 days later, five people were confirmed dead while three medical students were missing after a speed boat capsized in Calabar, Cross River state.

Twenty people, including 14 medical students, reportedly boarded the boat at the Marina Resort in Calabar. The boat was en route to Oron in Akwa Ibom state. 

According to NIWA, the accident was caused by overloading, engine malfunctions, and rainy weather. Following the incident, Bassey Otu, the state governor, suspended cruise operations and other activities at the Marina Resort.

Passengers on a boat without life jackets

August 11: Two people were rescued after a boat capsized in the Atlantic Ocean in Lagos. The boat was moving from Makoko, Ebute-Meta, Lagos.

August 24: Another boat accident in Nasarawa state led to the deaths of 12 people in Arikiya, Lafia LGA of the state. Seven people were rescued from the boat, which had 19 passengers on board.

September 8: Fifteen people were killed in yet another boat accident in Njuwa Lake in Yola south LGA of Adamawa state.

September 10: A boat carrying over 100 passengers, who were on their way to their farms, capsized in the Mokwa area of Niger state. About 24 passengers lost their lives in the accident.

October 2: Twenty-three people were feared dead when a boat capsized in Agwara LGA of Niger state.

The boat was conveying passengers from Kasabo village in Agwara LGA of Niger to Yauri in Kebbi state. Seven people were rescued from the mishap.

October 7: Seventy-six people reportedly died following a boat accident in Ogbaru LGA in Anambra state. The boat reportedly took off from Onukwu bridge and was heading to Nkwo market, Ogbakuba in Ogbaru LGA when it capsized.

The majority of the passengers on board were women and children who were trying to escape from their flooded communities. The boat driver reportedly lost control when he sailed into a heavy wave, causing the boat to hit one of the pillars supporting the Umunnakwe/Ossomala bridge.

October 26: Two bodies were recovered after a boat crossing from Olorunsogo to the Isawo area of Lagos capsized.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said four others were rescued alive.

October 28: Two days later, a boat carrying passengers returning from Mayo-Renewo market to the Karim Lamido area of Taraba state capsized, killing more than 20 people. 

November 6: Four residents of Nasarawa state lost their lives in a boat accident that occurred in the Awe LGA of the state.

The boat was reportedly conveying rice farmers from Ubbe district in the Nasarawa Eggon LGA.

November 12: Eight more people died while several others were injured in a boat accident in the Ibi LGA of Taraba state.

December 11: Two people were missing while three others were rescued in a boat accident that occurred in Gamadio LGA of Adamawa state.

Tinubu directed government agencies to collaborate closely in identifying the root causes of the unfortunate and preventable waterway disasters

The timeline above shows events reported in the media, which means some could have happened in remote communities and gone unreported.

In September, President Bola Tinubu ordered an investigation into the constant boat accidents.

Tinubu directed the Nigerian maritime safety authorities and law enforcement agencies to collaborate and identify the root causes of the “unfortunate and preventable disasters”.