NIWA Commences Enforcement Of Life Jacket Use On Waterways

As part of measures to save lives on the Nigerian waterways, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) Niger-Kwara Area Office on Saturday, 23 August, 2025 commenced enforcement of life jacket use for passengers boarding boats.
The Area Manager, Mr Akapo Adeboye, who flagged off the 2025 sensitisation campaign tagged “Safety and Safe Trip: Zero Tolerance to Boat Mishap – No Life Jacket, No Boarding, ” said the campaign is meant to ensure safety of lives and property in line with inland waterways regulations at Gabgibo community.
It was gathered that the enforcement, which began at the Gabgibo waterfront in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger, is part of the authority’s efforts to reduce boat accidents and ensure safety on waterways.
Adeboye vowed that authority would enforce the use of life jackets by boat operators and passengers and would no longer tolerate non-compliance
“We are shifting from sensitisation to enforcement, and we expect all boat operators and passengers to comply,” he said.
According to him, NIWA had been carrying out sensitisation on the importance of wearing life jackets while on boats for the past three years, adding that the campaign has recorded positive results, with a decline in boat accidents in recent times.
Part of the activities during the sensitization campaign included the inauguration of an emergency response team for rescue purposes, tasked with responding promptly to any emergency or accident on the waterways.