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Boat accidents claim 92 lives in eight months, minister fingers wooden canoe

Published

1 year ago

September 2, 2025

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola

Boat accidents claim 92 lives in eight months, minister fingers wooden canoe

About 92 passengers reportedly lost their lives in boat accidents across Nigeria between January and August 2025, despite the Federal Government’s efforts to enhance safety on the nation’s waterways. The accidents occurred in several states, including Rivers, Niger, Sokoto, Kwara, and Zamfara.

This came as the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, appealed to states to phase out wooden boats, stressing in a statement on Sunday that incidents of boat mishaps had persisted largely due to the widespread use of these wooden boats.

An analysis by The PUNCH from various media reports and statements from government agencies indicated that in January, a boat capsized near Bonny Island, resulting in three deaths (two adults and a toddler), while there were 19 survivors.

On May 15, on the Niger River border, Gbajibo-Mudi Area of Kwara State, a boat carrying passengers returning from the market capsized during a storm, and 27 passengers were confirmed dead. Also in July, at Shiroro Area in Niger State, a market-bound passenger boat capsized near Gumu village, with at least 13 people feared dead.

On August 17 in Sokoto, Goronyo market, a boat carrying over 50 passengers capsized. Two days later, it was reported that 25 passengers were still missing while 25 had been rescued. Also on August 22, in the Faji community, Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto State, a canoe with 30 passengers capsized, as six persons were confirmed dead, while three were missing.

Also on August 30, 13 people died and more than 20 were declared missing after a boat carrying fleeing villagers capsized in a river in Zamfara State. However, The Nation Newspapers reported on Monday that the number of people who died at the Zamfara boat accident was 16.

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Over the weekend, the National Inland Waterways Authority confirmed another fatal boat mishap at the Jaranja River in the Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State. NIWA Area Manager in Sokoto, Mr Bala Bello, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Sokoto that two persons died, while nine survivors were rescued.

Bello, who said the incident occurred in the afternoon, attributed it to negligence, canoe overloading, and safety rules violations.

In May, The PUNCH reported that Oyetola flagged off the distribution of 42,000 life jackets to waterway users across 12 selected riverine states. Announcing this in a statement, the ministry explained that the landmark move was aimed at enhancing safety on Nigeria’s inland waterways.

It added that the initiative, which kicked off in Minna, Niger State, intends to curb the alarming rate of boat mishaps and fatalities in the country. Oyetola stressed that each of the beneficiary states would receive 3,500 life jackets in the first phase of the strategic safety intervention by the ministry.

The minister, while commiserating with victims of the recent boat incident in the Jaranja River, appealed to states to phase out wooden boats. The minister, in a statement on Sunday through his media aide, Dr Bolaji Akinola, described the tragedy as deeply painful, even as he extended heartfelt condolences on behalf of the Federal Government to all those affected.

The Osun State former governor reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to prioritising waterways safety, while appealing to state governments to urgently complement these efforts by investing in modern, non-wooden boats for commercial operations in their states.

The minister noted that, “despite the ministry’s recent interventions, including the nationwide distribution of 3,500 life jackets to each riverine state, incidents of boat mishaps have persisted largely due to the widespread use of wooden boats. The structural weaknesses of wooden boats make them unsafe for modern commercial operations.”

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He further explained that wooden boats cannot withstand the scale of haulage they are now subjected to, especially under conditions of overloading, thereby making them even more prone to accidents. “The time has come for a decisive break from outdated practices. Wooden boats have served their time, but they cannot be the future of water transport in Nigeria. The tragic mishaps we continue to witness are a direct consequence of the continued reliance on unsafe vessels. We must now chart a safer course for our people,” Oyetola declared.

He highlighted that fibre and aluminium boats, being sturdier, safer, and more durable, represent the global standard for inland and coastal waterway transport. Oyetola called on state governments, particularly those with large riverine populations, to urgently invest in these modern boats, describing such investments as both life-saving and economically strategic.

“Our ministry has mandated the compulsory use of life jackets, and we have supplied them in thousands to riverine states. But life jackets alone cannot guarantee safety without safe boats. I therefore appeal to our state governments to complement the Federal Government’s efforts by deliberately investing in fibre and aluminium boats. This is the seed we must sow today to secure a safer, more prosperous tomorrow,” the minister said.

The Chairman of the United Waterways Passengers Association, Mr Gbenga Oluwadiya, urged the government to enforce the use of life jackets. “The government has tried in the area of giving out life jackets and sensitising people on the wearing. But I think the government needs to do more on the enforcement of the use of life jackets,” he stated.

Earlier, the President of the Barge Operators Association of Nigeria, Mr Olubunmi Olumekun, spoke on the need to differentiate passenger boats from cargo boats to avoid overloading.

“Some boat operators use passenger boats to carry goods. They load people and also have a full load of goods. It is not possible; you have to separate them, let the passenger boat be for passengers, and the one for goods be for goods. You must separate them.

“You must have someone to control them. So take your passenger boat and go to where you want to go, and your goods will get to you; that is what should be happening with boats, just like what we see in the aviation sector,” Olumekun said.

Boat accidents claim 92 lives in eight months, minister fingers wooden canoe

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Related Topics:boat accidents Minister wooden canoe

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Lagos Club Robbery: Police Arrest Suspect After N5m Bounty

Published

12 hours ago

September 27, 2026

Trends Admin

Lagos Club Robbery: Police Arrest Suspect After N5m Bounty

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of the gang that allegedly robbed clubgoers outside Ghost and Spirits Lounge on Ekoro Road, Abule Egba, Lagos.

The suspect was reportedly identified from video footage of the incident, which showed several people being attacked outside the entertainment venue in the early hours of the morning.

The Lagos club robbery reportedly occurred at about 4am on Saturday after some customers had left the lounge and gathered around their vehicles.

Footage from the scene showed several clubgoers sitting around a vehicle when the suspected robbers approached.

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One of the suspects, reportedly dressed in a green shirt and cap, appeared to move among the people before allegedly targeting one of the victims.

Another member of the group was reportedly seen in an SUV parked across the road before a gunshot was fired, causing some of the people at the scene to run for safety.

The suspect in the green shirt was then allegedly seen taking a wristwatch from one of the victims, while other members of the group reportedly collected valuables before escaping in their vehicle.

Following the incident, the management of the lounge announced a N5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators.

The reward and subsequent investigation helped the police identify and track one of the suspects, who was eventually arrested.

A police source said the suspect was in custody and being interrogated, with investigators seeking information that could lead to the arrest of the other alleged members of the gang.

The Lagos Police Command has also intensified efforts to locate the remaining suspects, who are reportedly still at large.

The incident has raised concerns among residents and nightlife customers in Abule Egba, particularly over the security of people leaving entertainment venues during the early hours.

Police authorities have urged residents with useful information about the suspects or the robbery to assist the investigation.

The arrested suspect remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court, while investigations continue into the alleged robbery and the identities and whereabouts of the other suspects.

Lagos Club Robbery: Police Arrest Suspect After N5m Bounty

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Passenger Dies After Jumping From Moving Bus In Lagos

Published

12 hours ago

September 27, 2026

Trends Admin

Passenger Dies After Jumping From Moving Bus In Lagos

A passenger has died after jumping from a moving commercial bus at Ogunlana Junction, inward Ojuelegba, in the Surulere area of Lagos.

The incident involved a Volkswagen commercial bus with registration number LND 130 XR, which reportedly crashed into a median pole around the Fallout area of Surulere.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said preliminary security reports indicated that the driver was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and had been driving recklessly shortly before the crash.

According to the agency, motorists approaching the bus from behind had to exercise caution to avoid colliding with the vehicle as it reportedly moved erratically.

Amid the incident, a male passenger reportedly jumped from the moving bus, apparently attempting to escape from the uncontrolled vehicle. He sustained serious injuries after hitting the ground and later died from his injuries.

LASTMA officials conducting routine traffic surveillance along the Ojuelegba axis responded to the scene after noticing the crash. They secured the area, managed traffic and removed the damaged bus and the deceased passenger from the carriageway to reduce the risk of a secondary collision.

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Police officers from the Area C Police Division, Ojuelegba, provided security at the scene, while officials of the State Emergency Management Agency evacuated the remains of the deceased.

LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the incident as a reminder of the dangers associated with driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving and operating vehicles that may not be mechanically fit for the road.

Bakare-Oki urged commercial and private motorists to conduct comprehensive checks on their vehicles before every journey, with particular attention to the braking system, tyres, steering mechanism and other critical safety components.

He also commiserated with the family of the deceased and reaffirmed LASTMA‘s commitment to responding promptly to road crashes, managing traffic and clearing accident scenes.

The agency urged motorists and other road users to report accidents, vehicle breakdowns and other traffic obstructions through its toll-free short code, 3367.

Passenger Dies After Jumping From Moving Bus In Lagos

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Kubwa Explosion: Vehicle Crashes Into Gas Outlet, Damages Nine Shops

Published

20 hours ago

September 27, 2026

Trends Admin

Kubwa Explosion: Vehicle Crashes Into Gas Outlet, Damages Nine Shops

Panic broke out in Kubwa, Abuja, on Sunday morning after a gas explosion rocked the Liberty Junction area, following a vehicle crash into a roadside gas retail outlet.

The incident occurred at about 6:15 a.m., sending a powerful blast through the area and causing nearby buildings to shake, while thick smoke and flames rose from the affected facility.

The vehicle reportedly veered off the road and crashed into the gas outlet, triggering the explosion and subsequent fire.

The impact affected several businesses around the junction, with reports indicating that nine shops were damaged or destroyed by the ensuing fire.

A nearby police traffic post was also reportedly uprooted by the force of the explosion, while other structures and sections of the surrounding area were damaged.

The vehicle involved in the crash was badly burnt in the incident. Emergency responders, however, reportedly rescued the driver and a child from the wreckage.

The injured driver was taken to a medical facility for treatment, while emergency personnel worked to prevent the fire from spreading to other shops and properties in the densely populated area.

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The explosion triggered panic among residents and commuters, with people reportedly rushing away from the scene as the fire continued to burn.

Emergency response agencies, including the Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Police Force, were deployed to the scene.

Firefighters battled the flames for hours before the situation was brought under control.

The incident also caused significant traffic disruption around Liberty Junction and the Kubwa axis, as motorists slowed down and emergency responders worked at the scene.

Security personnel subsequently moved people away from the immediate area and helped manage traffic while the damaged vehicle and other debris were cleared.

Initial reports did not indicate a confirmed death from the explosion, although the driver was reported to have sustained injuries.

Authorities had yet to provide a detailed official account explaining why the vehicle veered off the road or confirming the full extent of the damage and injuries as of the time of reporting.

The incident has again drawn attention to safety concerns surrounding gas outlets located close to busy roads, shops and residential areas, particularly in densely populated parts of the Federal Capital Territory.

Further assessment by relevant authorities is expected to establish the precise circumstances of the crash, the extent of the property damage and whether any safety breaches contributed to the incident.