20 killed in river boat mishap in Nigeria's Kogi state

Fatal maritime accidents in Nigeria, particularly in the country's more remote communities, have been attributed to regulatory lapses. Mishaps that resulted in death in these areas in recent years have been caused by factors such as overloading, lack of vessel maintenance, and failure to clear waterways of obstructions.

"Nigeria was [the] second worst [country in terms of fatal ferry accidents in 2024] with 423 fatalities from 13 incidents," Dr Neil Baird, Baird Maritime Co-Founder and ferry safety advocate, wrote earlier this year. "The main factor that seems to be saving Nigerians from fates as bad as their Congolese brethren is that they tend to travel on smaller ferries."