Nenadi Usman, acting chairperson of a faction of the Labour Party (LP) and former minister of finance, has called for urgent reforms on Nigeria’s inland waterways following a devastating boat accident in Niger State that has claimed close to 60 lives. The mishap occurred on Tuesday at Gausawa in Malale ward, Borgu LGA, when a wooden vessel carrying about 90 passengers capsized after hitting a submerged tree stump. The passengers were reportedly en route from Tungan Sule in Shagunu ward to Dugga for a condolence visit when the tragedy struck.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed that overloading and poor safety standards contributed to the disaster. Abdullah Arah, NSEMA’s director-general, said 29 bodies have been recovered, 50 passengers were rescued, while two remain unaccounted for. The accident adds to the growing list of fatal boat mishaps in Niger State, with July’s Shiroro incident—where 25 traders lost their lives—still fresh in memory. Between September 2024 and July 2025 alone, more than 90 people have died in boat-related accidents across Shiroro, Mokwa, Katcha, and Lapai LGAs.
In her reaction, Usman described the incident as “deeply unfortunate and heart-wrenching,” stressing that those traveling to sympathize with bereaved families became victims themselves. She lamented the recurring pattern of boat tragedies in Nigeria and urged authorities to introduce more robust legislation, alongside stricter enforcement of safety standards, to protect passengers and reduce risks on the nation’s waterways. “The frequency with which we record such mishaps should be a matter of grave concern to all Nigerians,” she stated.
Usman also extended condolences on behalf of the Labour Party to the families of the victims, the government, and the people of Niger State. She noted that the state has become a hotspot for repeated waterway disasters and demanded immediate action to address weak safety regulations and poor enforcement. “On behalf of the entire Labour Party family, I extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the government and people of Niger State, and indeed all Nigerians, on this national tragedy,” she wrote on her official X handle.
The recurring disasters highlight the need for comprehensive reforms in Nigeria’s maritime safety framework. As calls grow louder for preventive action, stakeholders insist that stricter regulations, improved monitoring, and proper enforcement could be the only way to stem the tide of avoidable tragedies on the nation’s waterways.
