The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, in collaboration with the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has trained 75 boat drivers and skippers in boat navigation and safety, as part of ongoing efforts to improve safety and professionalism on Nigeria’s inland waterways.
The training programme was organised by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and NIWA, following recommendations from investigation reports carried out during the tenure of former NIWA Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, which identified gaps in technical competence and safety awareness among waterway operators.
The three day programme, held between December 22 and 24, 2025, brought together boat operators from Lagos, Ogun and Ondo States. It focused on equipping participants with the practical knowledge and operational competence required for the issuance of the Certificate in Safe Boating and Navigation.
Participants were drawn from key boating associations, including the Maritime Workers Union, the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATAN), and the Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association of Nigeria (WABOTAN). Boat drivers and skippers operating across major inland routes in the three states took part in both classroom and field sessions.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, a representative of the NIWA Lagos Area Office, Timothy Clement, described the programme as a timely intervention aimed at reducing accidents and improving confidence among inland waterway users.
He said past incidents on waterways were often linked to limited technical knowledge and inadequate experience among operators, adding that continuous capacity building would significantly reduce such occurrences.
Clement also outlined ongoing safety measures being implemented by NIWA, including the removal of wrecks to enhance navigation and regular sensitisation of boat operators along busy routes such as CMS, Ikorodu, Badore, Badagry and Port Novo.
According to him, NIWA has intensified awareness campaigns by moving from jetty to jetty to educate operators on safety standards and best practices, while encouraging boat owners to release more skippers and captains for structured training.
“This year alone, NIWA conducted sensitisation exercises two to three times across different jetties. We are encouraging operators to make more of their captains and skippers available for this kind of training. I believe that by this time next year, we will have even more reasons to celebrate improved safety on our waterways,” he said.
Also speaking, the Lead Trainer and Consultant, Dr Sileola Akinbowale, described the programme as a life saving initiative designed to strengthen manpower capacity and reduce accidents on inland waterways.
She explained that the training combined theoretical instruction with hands on practical sessions to ensure participants were fully equipped to operate safely and efficiently.
Akinbowale commended the Federal Government, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and the former Managing Director of NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji, for prioritising safety and capacity development in the sector.
“We did not limit the training to classroom lectures. Participants were taken out for practical sessions at the jetty, which made the programme very effective. It was an all inclusive training, not just theory,” she said.
She added that the initiative would be sustained, stressing that continuous capacity enhancement remains critical to saving lives and improving professionalism on inland waterways.
Similarly, the leader of the Ogun State delegation, Pami Ronald, said participants were trained in boat handling, safety procedures, first aid, emergency response, engine maintenance and effective waterway transport management, noting that the knowledge gained would improve service delivery and passenger safety across the waterways.
