NIWA Initiates Safety Campaign Following Boat Accident in Niger

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has initiated a new safety campaign dubbed “One Man, One Life Jacket,” which is focused on ensuring that boat operators and passengers comply with the mandatory use of life jackets while on inland waterways.

At the campaign's launch held at the Zumba waterfront in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, Mr. Akapo Adeboye, the NIWA Area Manager, stated that ongoing awareness efforts and strict enforcement of safety regulations, particularly regarding life jacket usage, have led to a notable decrease in casualties resulting from boat accidents throughout the state.

He highlighted a specific incident that occurred in Zumba in 2025, where a boat capsized, tragically resulting in the deaths of ten passengers, all of whom were not wearing life jackets during the mishap.

Abdullahi Alhaji Ango, one of the boat operators, remarked that adherence to safety protocols—such as avoiding overcrowding, abstaining from night voyages, and mandatory life jacket usage—has contributed to a decline in boating accidents at the Zumba waterfront.