NIWA Warns Against Blaming Yemoja for Waterway Drownings

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has warned that drownings on inland waterways are linked to negligence and failure to follow safety protocols, rather than spiritual forces associated with Yemoja.

The Area Manager of NIWA’s Abeokuta Area Office, covering Ogun and Oyo States, Engr. Ipinmoroti Segun, made the statement during a safety sensitisation campaign at the 2026 Annual Yemoja Festival in Abeokuta.

Ipinmoroti said investigations into previous waterway accidents had identified factors including failure to wear life jackets, night sailing and operating boats under the influence of alcohol.

He urged participants at the festival to prioritise safety, stressing that every passenger must wear a life jacket before boarding a boat. He also warned against night sailing and operating boats after consuming alcohol.

According to him, NIWA ensures that boats are certified as seaworthy before they are allowed to operate, while the agency has also intensified training for commercial boat operators, licensing, monitoring and engagements with traditional rulers.

The sensitisation programme, 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), with support from the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

ATBOWATON National President, Ganiu Balogun, popularly known as Tarzan the Boatman, said the association operates a strict “No life jacket, no entry” policy at jetties, with marine guards deployed by NIWA.

Balogun said boats are expected to stop passenger operations by 7 p.m. and warned that operators could face sanctions for carrying passengers without life jackets. He also appealed for more government support through additional life jackets and fuel stations near waterfronts.

He further urged parents and guardians to keep children who cannot swim away from water bodies, warning that sudden storms and other hazards can create dangerous conditions.

The immediate past Vice President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), South West, Kayode Kolade, commended the safety campaign and called for the construction of a jetty and dredging of the Ago Ika waterway to improve transportation and tourism activities in the area.