NSIB: Life Jacket Neglect, Unsafe Navigation Fuel Boat Accidents in Nigeria

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has attributed the recurring boat accidents across Nigeria to passengers and operators’ failure to use life jackets and poor navigation practices.

NSIB Director-General, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., disclosed this during a virtual briefing with journalists, noting that safety recommendations are better implemented in the aviation sector than in the maritime industry.

Badeh said aviation accidents investigated by the bureau had rarely been repeated because operators acted on its safety recommendations. He, however, lamented that similar safety violations continued to occur on the waterways.

He said the repeated failure to use life jackets was particularly concerning, describing it as largely a cultural issue that the bureau was working to address.

According to him, the NSIB is also collaborating with relevant stakeholders, including the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), to improve navigation, especially at night and during periods of poor visibility.

Findings showed that at least 70 boat accidents were recorded across Nigeria in 2026, resulting in no fewer than 80 deaths.

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Although the figures are unofficial, January recorded the highest number of deaths, with 35 fatalities, followed by February with 14. April recorded four deaths, June 11 and July six.

The NSIB said stronger compliance with basic safety measures, particularly the use of life jackets and safe navigation practices, was essential to reducing boat accidents and fatalities across the country.