The Federal Government has introduced tougher regulations to improve safety on Nigeria’s waterways, mandating the use of life jackets and the gradual removal of unsafe wooden boats. Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, revealed this during a marine safety stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House Multipurpose Hall in Minna, Niger State. “The safety of lives on our waterways must be prioritised,” Oyetola said. “Henceforth, the use of life jackets is compulsory, and unsafe, rickety boats must be completely phased out. It is a collective responsibility to safeguard our marine transport system.” During the event, the Minister distributed 3,500 life jackets to stakeholders across 12 states as part of efforts to promote a culture of safety. The meeting brought together key players in the sector, including boat operators, passengers, riverside community leaders, and water marshals from the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA). Accompanied by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oritola, and the Managing Director of NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji, Oyetola said that while the ministry carries out routine dredging of inland waterways, its ability to extend coverage remains limited due to budgetary constraints. “Our ministry is responsible for dredging over 853 square kilometres of inland water reservoirs,” he said. “Unfortunately, we are faced with funding limitations which hamper full-scale operations.” Addressing the issue of the dormant Baro Port in Niger State, the Minister attributed its continued non-functionality to infrastructural gaps. “Baro Port has remained largely inaccessible due to the absence of functional access roads, nearly seven years after it was commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari,” he stated. “Infrastructure must go hand-in-hand with marine development for such assets to serve their purpose.”