Over 300 deaths recorded in 2023 – Report
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria has urged the regulators and waterway transport operators to prioritize safety in a bid to curb the recurring boat mishaps leading to deaths across the nation.
President of CILT Nigeria, Barr. (Mrs.) Mfon Usoro, made this call in a press statement disseminated on Thursday, where the Institute stated that it us saddened by the frequent loss of lives associated with passenger ferries on coastal and inland waterways.
“While we support the use of inland waterways transports as an alternative and viable mode of transportation, the incessant ferry related incidents resulting in fatalities has prompted a closer look at the deficit in safety culture and non-adherence to safety measures by the parties responsible for safety in our waters.”
“Safety of lives and property at sea/rivers is of paramount concern to everyone, especially in the light of recurring boat mishaps. These incidents not only result in tragic loss of lives but also pose significant economic and environmental risks,” Usoro said.
An independent online investigation by the Publicity Committee, CILT Nigeria, revealed that over 300 lives were lost to different boat accidents across the country in 2023.
Recent ferry and boat fatalities recorded include: 5 Nollywood actors and crew in Asaba, Delta State; 3 medical students in Calabar, Cross River State, 3 passengers in Ibeshe, Ikorodu, Lagos State, 8 dead and estimated 100 persons declared missing in Borgu district, Niger State, 8 passengers in Anambra State.
Overwhelming cause of the ferry disasters were the occurrence of one or a combination of the following factors: overloading, non-use of lifejackets, adverse weather conditions, human error, sub-standard boats and ferries, mechanical failures like engine breakdowns, inadequate safety measures, absence of navigational aids, non-availability of search and rescue services and regulatory gaps.
The Institute also observed that the struggle for turf among government agencies on who oversees what constitutes a major impediment to effective monitoring and enforcement of the applicable safety laws and regulations. Even those with knowledge of what should be done seem paralyzed by the uncertainties surrounding areas of operation.
The photo of school children without life vests in a boat with their handlers circulating on social media recently has rightly attracted widespread condemnation. CILT Nigeria observes multiple failures at different levels in all the ferry and boat incidents that have resulted in loss of lives.
Regulatory deficit, inadequate monitoring and enforcement of available regulation, lack of general awareness on personal safety equipment, non-adoption of swimming as a necessary survival skill. The pervasive poor safety culture has permeated our inland waterways transport system.
CILT is of the opinion that all stakeholders that constitute the “circle of responsibility” in safety of water transport must work in collaboration to improve safety consciousness of ferry operators, jetty owners and persons that use waterways transport.
In order to reduce loss of lives and property in our waterways, CILT urges the introduction where there is none of and effective compliance with the following safety measures:
Lifejackets: Operators have the obligation to always have adequate number of functional lifejackets and throwable devices or boat cushions on their boats for the safety and rescue of passengers. The responsible government agencies must procure the cooperation and assistance of other agencies of government with presence in locations that ferries berth and depart from to assist in the enforcement of the use of life vests. Various types of lifejackets are available to suit different needs and circumstances such as inflatable lifejackets, buoyancy aids, hybrid designs and special-purpose lifejackets. Understanding the characteristics and proper usage of these life-saving devices is essential for all passengers and operators of ferry services.
Safety Officers: Jetties and piers used for commercial water transport must have adequate number of trained safety officers and divers for search and rescue operations. Locations for passenger and boat interface must not be licenced if they do not have trained safety officers and divers. The teeming youths in riverine communities across the country are a ready workforce that could be recruited for this purpose because of their swimming skills and knowledge of the rivers.
Loading and Stowage: It is not clear whether NIWA or the responsible local authorities have published detailed regulations on the maximum number of passengers, maximum weight, types and number of onboard safety devices, types of cargo and guidelines on stowage for different types and sizes of river crafts used for goods and passenger transport. These measures are absolute necessity because loading and stowage have direct effect on the stability of watercrafts even in calm waters and manoeuvrability when confronted with unexpected incidents during a voyage.
Education and Training: Ensuring that boat operators and crew members receive comprehensive training on navigation, safety protocols, and emergency procedures is crucial for reducing loss of lives and property. Education campaigns targeting commercial and recreational ferry operations will promote responsible behavior while sailing. Education on safety in the waters should extend to young ones in school as it plays a pivotal role in promoting safety consciousness. Incorporating studies on personal safety at sea into school curriculums equips future generations with the knowledge and awareness needed to navigate the waters responsibly.
Regulatory Compliance: To mitigate risks associated with river transport, we need to strengthen maritime regulations and equip the responsible agencies to enforce compliance with safety standards.
Regular inspections of vessels to confirm the technical integrity of the ferries and boats, adequate stock of safety and rescue devices, adherence to weight limits, and proper licensing of operators will help to maintain safety standards. Enforcement officers must enforce the mandatory wearing of properly fitted lifejackets, perform thorough inspections before embarkation and also ensure adherence to weight limits specified by manufacturers and builders.
Emergency Preparedness: Equipping vessels with adequate safety equipment, including life jackets, flotation devices, distress signals, fire extinguishers and qualified operators etc are vital for the safety of passengers. Communication and safety protocols must be established and communicated to passengers prior to take off of ferries for all voyages. Enforcement officers must ensure that safety drills are conducted regularly in order to improve response times during emergencies. Adherence to safety protocols is non-negotiable – from small commercial boats ferrying passengers across channels to larger vessels navigating coastal waters.
Weather Monitoring: Monitoring weather conditions and issuing timely warnings can prevent ferries and boat operators from navigating in hazardous conditions. Authorities must provide easy access to reliable weather forecasts. Information on weather empowers boat operators to make informed decisions and avoid potential risks. We must not ignore the knowledge of local guardians of beaches who constitute a repository of weather reports for the specific location/area. The logs kept by the local “beach weatherman” used together with the conventional weather forecasts could provide life-saving weather information.
Swimming: Most drowning incidents occur unexpectedly and in calm weather conditions. In some of the marine incidents mentioned above, majority of the survivors were good swimmers. Swimming should be viewed as a useful survival skill and taught in schools. Ability to swim should be a mandatory skill for all safety officers. In the spirit of collaboration, towns with communal swimming pools, stadiums and Institutes with swimming pools should permit schools to use those facilities for swimming lessons of school pupils.
Whole-of-Government Efforts: The Institute continues to emphasize and urge collaboration between government agencies, industry stakeholders, civil societies and local communities as such collaboration is imperative for developing comprehensive passenger safety strategies. It includes provision of technical knowledge and incentives to manufacturers of safety devices for bats and ferries. Sharing of knowledge, best practices, conducting joint exercises, collaboration in enforcement will foster a culture of safety and enhance collective responsibility for maritime safety.
Safety Culture: Water transport has traditionally been the mode of transportation for people residing in coastal and riverine areas. With the increased drive for diversification and greater access to blue economy, it is imperative to develop and sustain a water safety culture in Nigeria. Knowledge of personal safety at sea should be an integral part of school curriculums. Nigerians need to be taught from an early age the implication of neglecting safe practices. A good safety culture reduces losses, both of lives and properties.
A culture of safety in marine operations and efficient deployment of resources requires that safety enforcement officers and inspectors have uniform training and certification. It makes sense for safety inspectors in NIWA, jetties/docks, waterside, beaches and any location that ferries berth or depart to possess certification issued by NIMASA to ensure uniformity of standards. NIMASA is established for that purpose and well equipped to perform that function. The STCW 95 certification training and guidelines for non-convention vessels are useful tools in this regard. Outreach by safety officers for awareness missions must be frequent as should monitoring and enforcement exercises. The circle of enforcement includes merchants who should be under obligation not to sell commercial boats to companies and persons that do not have certification from the relevant public authority to operate such businesses. Eligibility criteria for certification to operate ferry services must include the measures itemized above particularly with respect to engagement of qualified skippers, possession of adequate safety devices to be kept on board, engagement of qualified safety officers and divers etc.
In addition to promoting individual safety measures, efforts to curb risky behaviours such as alcohol consumption by boat operators are crucial.
