INLAND WATERWAYS SAFETY: Oyetola Launches Life-Saving Campaign with 3,500 Life Jackets in Lagos

LAGOS — In a bold step toward bolstering water transport safety and saving lives on Nigeria’s inland waterways, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Wednesday officially flagged off the Lagos leg of a national life jacket distribution campaign, delivering 3,500 life jackets to boat users and operators across the state.

The campaign, themed “Life First on the Water,” is part of a broader federal initiative targeting improved safety practices, especially in Nigeria’s densely populated riverine communities, where water travel remains a critical, daily mode of transportation.

Speaking at the Marine Safety Sensitization and Life Jacket Distribution Exercise held on the shores of Lagos’ bustling waterways, the Minister, represented by Dr. Mercy Ilori, a senior director in the ministry — reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to a “zero-fatality” inland waterway transport system.

“Today’s exercise is not just about distributing safety gear; it is a life-affirming act that brings us closer to a new era of accountability, awareness, and proactive water transport governance,” Oyetola said.

According to the Minister, Lagos is the latest in a line of states including Niger, Bayelsa, Anambra, and Akwa Ibom that have benefitted from the ongoing safety intervention. The target, he revealed, is to reach 12 states across Nigeria’s coastal and riverine belts within the shortest time possible.

FG Flags Off Life Jacket Distribution Campaign in Lagos

Underpinning the effort is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which Oyetola said is anchored on three pillars: Regulatory enforcement, public education, and the provision of life-saving infrastructure.

“The Inland Waterways Transportation Regulations 2023 are now in full effect. But regulation alone is not enough. We need a cultural shift. We must make water safety a collective habit, not an afterthought,” he emphasized.

Oyetola hailed Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his visionary push to expand water transportation and lauded the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) for leading public sensitization efforts across the country.

“The slogan is simple and non-negotiable: No Life Jacket, No Entry. Life jackets are shields — not inconveniences,” he added, calling for active involvement from boat unions, local chiefs, and transport operators to spread the message to the grassroots.

Also present at the event, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, described the initiative as timely and transformative, noting that over 85% of Lagos commuters still depend on road transport, despite the growing potential of the waterways.

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“We must diversify. And to do that successfully, we must ensure our waterways are safe, trusted, and reliable. This initiative is a big leap in the right direction,” Osiyemi said.

NIWA Managing Director, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, emphasized that in the marine transport sector, safety is the true currency of success.

“While accountants count profit margins, we count lives saved. Safety is our profit,” he said, reiterating NIWA’s goal of zero fatalities on Nigerian waters.

He confirmed that six states have already received life jackets under the campaign, with plans in motion to cover the remaining six by mid-2026.

Oyetola Flags Off 3,500 Life Jacket Distribution Campaign in Lagos

“The message is clear. If you don’t wear a life jacket, you won’t be allowed on any boat. It’s that serious,” Oyebamiji stated firmly.

Earlier, Mr. Damilola Emmanuel, General Manager of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), welcomed dignitaries and boat operators to the event, calling it a “milestone moment” for Lagos’ water-based mobility future.

“This isn’t just a symbolic event. It’s a vital step toward sustainable marine infrastructure. Without safety, there is no transport system,” Emmanuel said.

The campaign event drew wide participation from marine operators, safety corps, community leaders, and boat unions — all united in a shared mission to transform Nigeria’s waterways into a model of secure, inclusive, and modern transport.

As the distribution continues in other states, stakeholders say it’s not just the jackets that will save lives, it’s the shift in mindset they represent.