Assessment of Passenger’s Safety Implementation in Water Transportation (a Case Study of Kurutie, Okerenkoko and Escravos Waterways)

The purpose of this research is to investigate the safety of inland waterway transportation in Kurutie, Okerenkoko, and Escravos River, Nigeria. The study used a cross-sectional research design, and the study s target group includes passengers who are technical experts, maritime workers, non-academic, academic personnels and students of Nigeria Maritime University, and self-employed passengers who live in the study locations. Questionnaires and field observations were used to obtain data. 378 questionnaires were delivered throughout the study area. According to the study, most cases of maritime boat mishaps beleaguered the inland waterway in the study area due to unskilled boat drivers, overloading/overcrowding of boats, and a lack of enforcement of safety laws by government agencies within the study area. The study recommended that relevant authorities, such as the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority, enforce safety regulations among jetty operators and boat drivers; that training and certifying boat drivers are enforced; and that government involvement be increased by developing a sensitization program to educate passengers on the importance of adhering to safety practices along the waterways.