On Sunday morning, a passenger boat carrying over 50 people to a local market overturned in Sokoto State’s swollen waterways. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said that 10 passengers have been rescued, while more than 40 remain missing as rescue teams race against the clock.
Boat accidents are a recurring crisis in Nigeria, where overcrowded vessels and poor maintenance become especially dangerous during the annual rainy season, when rivers and lakes overflow. At least 16 farmers died in August 2024 when a wooden canoe capsized while ferrying them to rice fields in the same region.
Similar tragedies have struck nearby states this year. On July 29, six young girls drowned after their boat flipped midstream in Jigawa State. Two days earlier, 13 people lost their lives in a boat mishap in central Niger State.
With floodwaters rising, experts call for stricter enforcement of capacity limits, mandatory life jackets, and regular boat inspections to stem the toll on Nigeria’s inland waterways. In the meantime, local volunteers have joined NEMA in nighttime search operations, hoping to find survivors before daylight fades.
Have you witnessed or been affected by boating incidents on Nigeria’s rivers? Share your experiences and safety tips below.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
