The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, intensified its comprehensive safety inspection drive across major ferry terminals and jetties on the Lagos inland waterways.
​As part of a stringent enforcement exercise aimed at preventing boat mishaps and enforcing regulatory compliance, the federal agency announced the immediate introduction of mandatory quarterly safety inspections for smaller commercial craft and passenger ferries operating within Lagos state waters. Officials firmly warned that non-compliant vessel owners face immediate impoundment and heavy administrative sanctions.
​During the early morning inspection exercise at the CMS Ferry Terminal in Marina, marine safety marshals and regulatory officers boarded several passenger vessels to examine hull integrity, engine performance, life jacket certifications, fire extinguishers, navigation lights, and passenger manifests.
​Previously conducted on a biannual or annual schedule, NIWA officials confirmed that smaller commercial vessels must now present themselves for structural and safety re-certification every three months.
​Speaking to journalists during a media briefing at the NIWA Lagos Area Office in CMS at 11:30 AM, Engr. Sarat Braimah, the NIWA Lagos Area Manager, emphasized that the decision followed increased commuter reliance on water transportation across Lagos.
​”Safety on our inland waterways is non-negotiable. We are instituting mandatory quarterly safety audits specifically tailored for smaller passenger boats because they bear the heaviest daily passenger load. Operators who fail to register their craft, neglect routine engine servicing, or fail safety audits will have their vessels impounded without exception. Our target remains zero water accidents across all Lagos channels.” Engr. Sarat Braimah declared.
​Supporting the enforcement directive, Suleiman Makama, Head of Marine Operations for NIWA Lagos, outlined the key criteria officers are checking during the ongoing operation.
Valid NIWA operational permits and up-to-date vessel registration numbers prominently displayed on boat hulls. Mandatory availability of standard, high-buoyancy life jackets for all passengers and crew; damaged or substandard life jackets are seized on the spot.
Absolute prohibition of night travel past 7:00 PM and strict limits on passenger payloads to avoid capsizing and a mandatory presentation of valid boat operator licenses and evidence of safety training certification.
​At the Liverpool Jetty in Apapa, search and inspection teams impounded two non-compliant wooden passenger boats for failing structural safety tests and operating without certified life vests.
​Commenting on the development at 2:00 PM, Subair Abner, Lagos State Chairman of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATN), pledged the association’s willingness to cooperate while calling for streamlined inspection logistics:
​”While we support NIWA’s commitment to saving lives and removing rickety boats from the waterways, we appeal to the management to ensure the quarterly inspection centers are decentralized so operators do not lose crucial operational hours in long queues.”
​NIWA maintained that enforcement units and task forces would remain deployed across all major water corridors, including Badagry, Ikorodu, Epe, and Victoria Island, throughout the week to ensure strict compliance.
