Dozens feared dead in another Nigeria boat disaster but why do they keep happening?

Statistics from Lagos State Water Authority (Laswa) showed that only one person died in a boat accident in 2024 and 6 people in 2025, with no fatalities recorded so far this year.

Abdulbaq Balogun, managing director of Lagos Ferry Services, put the improvement down to four measures taken by the state government:providing new, standard boats and life jacketsdredging the water channelsemploying water guards at every jetty and terminalensuring that all boat operators are trained and licensed."However, Ibrahim Husseini, director of information at the National Emergency Management Agency of Niger state, says the government regularly provides life jackets, but that people who have spent their whole lives by the water say they don't need them, or find them uncomfortable."