The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has identified poor compliance with basic safety measures, particularly the non-use of life jackets and unsafe navigation, as major factors behind the repeated boat accidents recorded across the country.
The NSIB Director-General, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr, made this known during a virtual briefing with journalists, where he expressed concern over the repeated occurrence of similar safety failures in the maritime sector.
Badeh noted that safety recommendations issued after aviation accident investigations were usually implemented by operators, helping to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.
He, however, said the situation was different on the waterways, where basic safety breaches continued despite previous investigations and recommendations.
“Most of the accidents or incidents we have investigated haven’t reoccurred because of those same issues. That’s because those in the aviation sector are taking our investigative reports and addressing them. At least on the aviation side, we’ve not seen the same issue happen over and over again.
“With the maritime sector, however, we continue to see the same issues repeatedly, particularly the failure to use life jackets. I think that has more to do with culture than anything else, but we’re working on it.”
The NSIB chief said the bureau was engaging relevant agencies and stakeholders to address the persistent safety problems on inland waterways.
He specifically highlighted the dangers posed by poor visibility and unsafe navigation around sunset and at night.
“We are talking to the relevant stakeholders, and they have shown interest in working with us, especially with the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, on issues such as navigation at night or during sundown,” he said.
