NIWA warns operators against overloading barges on Lagos waterways

By Cynthia Alo
The National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, has warned cargo barge operators against the dangerous practice of overloading containers beyond approved limits, saying the trend poses a serious threat to safety on Lagos inland waterways.
Speaking at the 2026 Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria’s (SCAN) Dockworkers’ Day in Lagos, the Lagos Area Manager, NIWA, Engr Sarat Braimah, said the overloaded barges pose a risk of accidents to oncoming tugboats and others.
According to her, safety in the maritime sector is non-negotiable, adding that a single poor decision by maritime personnel doesn’t just damage cargo but directly endangers human lives and the enviro...