AWC Maritime Desk
The Federal Government’s call for a ban on wooden boats for commercial water transportation has sparked a growing debate among stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime and riverine communities, with concerns emerging over the potential impact on livelihoods, traditional transport systems, and the broader maritime ecosystem.
As earlier stated by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, wooden boats are considered unstable, prone to rapid deterioration, and more likely to capsize compared to fibre-reinforced plastic and aluminium vessels. The Minister has therefore urged state governments to prohibit their use and adopt safer alternatives, alongside strict enforcement of water safety regulations such as compulsory life jackets, bans on night travel, and measures against overloading.
However, operators, boat builders, and community leaders across riverine areas are questioning whether an outright ban is the most balanced solution. They argue that wooden boats have long been the backbone of inland water transportation, sustaining local economies, providing employment for thousands of craftsmen, transporters, traders, and fishermen, and supporting an indigenous maritime value chain that has evolved over generations.
Critics of the proposed ban contend that rather than eliminating wooden boats entirely, the focus should be on improving construction standards, certification, routine inspections, and operator training to ensure safer and healthier operations. They note that many accidents are linked not solely to the type of vessel used, but to poor maintenance, overloading, lack of safety equipment, and weak enforcement of existing regulations.
Stakeholders also warn that an abrupt transition to fibre and aluminium boats could impose high costs on small-scale operators, potentially pushing many out of business and disrupting transport access in remote communities where water routes remain the only viable means of mobility.
While acknowledging the government’s responsibility to protect lives on the waterways, proponents of a regulatory approach argue that safety and livelihoods need not be mutually exclusive. They are calling for a phased reform strategy that combines upgraded safety standards, subsidies or financing options for vessel upgrades, capacity-building for local boat builders, and stronger enforcement of water transport regulations.
As Nigeria seeks to grow its blue economy, the debate underscores a broader policy question: whether sustainable maritime safety is best achieved through outright bans, or through inclusive reforms that strengthen standards, preserve jobs, and modernize traditional systems without dismantling them.
