• Nigeria to revive inland water transport in Niger Delta via ferry services
• New public-private body NDFS to develop safe, sustainable transport framework
• Sector plagued by accidents; Nigeria led 2023 inland water fatalities in Africa

The Nigerian government plans to revive inland water transport in the Niger Delta. Regional Development Minister Abubakar Momoh revealed the plan earlier this week at an inauguration ceremony, according to local media reports.

The initiative seeks to boost connectivity and support economic growth in the vast, marshy region, where many communities remain hard to reach by road.

Public-Private Effort to Launch Formal Ferry Services

The Minister announced a new body, the Niger Delta Ferry Services Development Committee (NDFS), a public-private partnership tasked with developing a sustainable framework for the project.

“Many Niger Delta communities remain surrounded by water with limited access,” local media quoted Momoh as saying. “Even with new projects like the coastal road, ferry services are essential to ensure that no community is left behind.”

The program complements another project under way in Lagos State, supported by the AFD, the European Union, and the European Investment Bank. That initiative focuses on building new terminals, dredging waterways, and adding electric ferries.

Addressing Safety Concerns

Water transport in Nigeria is still dominated by informal operators and unsafe practices. Overloaded artisanal boats, a lack of safety gear, and poorly trained crews are common causes of accidents.

According to the “Future of Maritime Safety Report” published by Inmarsat on Sept. 11, Nigeria, along with the DRC and Mozambique, accounted for nearly 72% of reported river and lagoon accidents in 2023. The report cited weak regulation, limited government oversight, and negligence by private operators as key contributing factors.

Henoc Dossa