By Stephen Ubanna
It is no longer news that Adegboyega Oyetola, a former governor of Osun state and now minister of marine and blue economy, is determined to reduce the frequent boat mishaps in Nigerian waters.
Until the former Osun state governor was appointed the minister of marine and blue economy carved out from the ministry of Transportation last August, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s, who incidentally was a- one – time governor of Lagos state, boat mishaps was a regular occurrence in Nigerian maritime domain, particular, in the north central states of Niger, Kwara and the south -south states of Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers including the north central states of Sokoto and Kebbi.
As a prelude to the ministry intervention to prevent the boat mishaps, minister Oyetola, who is very much concerned about the continuous loss of lives due to the boat accidents had inaugurated a Special Committee on February to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the boat mishaps and come out with recommendations that will be implemented by the Federal Government to solve the problem once and for all ‘’to save lives and property’.
Given the mister’s seriousness to addressing the age-long problem in Nigeria, he had flagged off the distribution of 42,00 life jackets to water way users across 12 selected coastal states across Nigeria.
The benefiting states, according to an insider are the north central states of Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Benue and the south -south states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross river, Delta, Rivers, and the north eastern state of Anambra, and the north western of states of Sokoto, Kebbi and the south western state of Lagos.
The minister had Launched the Campaign for the distribution of the life jackets in in Niger, home state of former military President Ibrahim Babangida, in April, 2025. It was quickly followed with the distribution of the life Jackets in Bayelsa, home state of former President Goodluck Jonathan and Heineken Lokobiri, minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Oil, under the incumbent President Tinubu’s Administration.
The Osun state born politician, may have his reason for delivering the consignment of Life Jackets to Kwara state. Describing ‘’the state as a crucial beneficiary’’, as it relies on water transportation to access most Communities in such local government areas like Patigi, Edu, and Kaiama, where the River Niger and its tributaries are vital for commerce and daily life activities.
Mrs. Mercy Ilori, Director, Maritime Services Department, in the ministry who was said to represented the minister in the distribution of the Life Jackets in the Nigerian inland state was said to have made ‘’the boat operators and the water ways users to understand that accidents in Nigerian waters occur due to the absence of life jackets’’, stating the ministry, is actively combating it.
The ministry Director may have spoken the mind of the minister when she stated that the Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN’s strategy of tackling the boat mishaps challenge is multifaceted: enforcing the Inland Ways Transportation Regulations 2023, conducting public safety education, and providing essential tools like life jackets.
She noted that the distribution of the life jackets in the state is a’’ clear demonstration of the FG’s commitment ‘’to protecting lives and property and ensuring that no riverine community, across the country is left behind’’.
Appealing to boat operators in the north central state to enforce that ‘’No Life Jacket, No Entry Policy’’, she asserted that it is the only to make the inland water way users understand that ‘’safety is non-negotiable priority’’.
Mamamman Saba Jibri, a Professor and Secretary to the State government, who had represented Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the state governor, at the event had thanked the Nigerian President and Oyetola, the minister of marine and blue economy for considering it necessary to extend the distribution of the life jackets to the state, and called on the various transport unions and boat operators in the state ‘’to ensure that the life jackets are properly utilized for their intended purpose’’.
While the minister had participated in the distribution of the life jackets in Niger and Bayelsa states but sent a Representative Kwara state, the situation was different in the south eastern state of Anambra governed by Prof, Chukwuma Soludo of the ruling All-Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA. The ministry has donated 3,500 life jackets for distribution to water transportation users in the state as part as part of the President Tinubu’s Administration contribution ‘’to improve lives and property of Anambra Inland water ways’’.
In making the presentation to the state government, Mrs. Uzoamaka Okereke, Director, Maritime Abiotic Resources in the ministry, disclosed that the south east state is among the states that had been selected to receive the life jackets in order to boost safety on water transportation in the state.
She noted that ‘’this is a move on the part of the FG, in the ongoing renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu to ensure a better life for Nigerians’’. Mrs. Patricia Igwebuike, Commissioner for Transport, in the state, who had received the life jackets from the minister’s Representative, in her remarks stated that’’the gesture was historic but was to further the synergy and collaborations between the Federal and state governments’’.
The Commissioner averred that Prof. Soludo, led government through the ministry of Transport, has’’ registered, captured and stored the biometric data of over 200 boat operators in the state’’ spread across Otuocha, Onono, Olubanasaa, Onitsha and Nsugbe waterfalls cum loading points.
Paul Odenigbo, the Executive Secretary, Anambra state Emergency Management Agency, ASEMA, who was said to have been represented at the event by one Emmanuel Uzochukwu, to receive the life jackets donation from the ministry of marine and blue economy had commended the minister of marine and blue economy , noting that that ‘’the intervention came at the right time when it is mostly needed by the people , particular, those residing in these riverine areas of the state’’.
