The National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, has stated that drownings on waterways are not caused by spiritual forces like Yemoja, but by human negligence and abandonment of safety protocols. This assertion was made by Engr. Ipinmoroti Segun, Area Manager of NIWA's Abeokuta Area Office, during a sensitisation campaign at the 2026 Annual Yemoja Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The campaign aimed to promote safety awareness on inland waterways.
According to Ipinmoroti, past deaths on the water were wrongly attributed to spiritual forces, whereas investigations revealed that they were caused by failure to use life jackets, night sailing, and operating under the influence of alcohol. He emphasized that Yemoja, a revered water deity in the Yoruba region, is not responsible for the deaths. Instead, he attributed them to human negligence and the abandonment of safety protocols.
The sensitisation campaign, themed "Sensitisation on Sustainable Cultural Heritage and Safety Protocols on Inland Waterways," was organised by NIWA in collaboration with the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON) and supported by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. Ipinmoroti stressed that safety must be prioritized during cultural celebrations, and that NIWA certifies boats as seaworthy before they are allowed to sail.
Ipinmoroti disclosed that NIWA has intensified the training and retraining of commercial boat operators, licensing, on-site monitoring, and town hall engagements with traditional rulers to drive home the message that safety is everybody's responsibility. He noted that the campaign aligns with President Bola Tinubu's priority on safety, adding that "my people perish for lack of knowledge."
Ganiu Balogun, National President of ATBOWATON, corroborated Ipinmoroti's statement, revealing that the association enforces a strict "No life jacket, no entry" rule at jetties, with marine guards deployed by NIWA. He appreciated NIWA for maintaining a patrol boat on the waterways and noted that boats are expected to close operations by 7 p.m., with sanctions for any operator caught carrying passengers without life jackets.
Balogun appealed to the federal and state governments to support operators with more life jackets and fuel stations close to waterfronts, lamenting that boat operators incur extra costs conveying fuel in jerrycans from distant stations. He also cautioned parents not to allow children who cannot swim near water bodies, warning that a storm can start at any time.
Other stakeholders, including Mr Kayode Kolade, immediate past Vice President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria, FTAN, South West, commended NIWA and ATBOWATON but called for the construction of a jetty and dredging of the Ago Ika waterway to make it more transport-friendly. The stakeholders emphasized the need for a collaborative effort to promote safety on inland waterways.
Key points
- NIWA attributes drownings on waterways to human negligence, not spiritual forces like Yemoja.
- The authority has intensified training and retraining of commercial boat operators to promote safety.
- Stakeholders call for government support with life jackets and infrastructure to enhance safety on inland waterways.
