It is heartrending that marine transportation is nearly non-existent in this country. In a 21st century Nigeria, this sector ought to have developed, especailly in the face of massive influx of people from the rural areas to the urban locations. Those Nigerians who depend on water transportation are especially hit by the huge neglect of the sector by the government.

There is no need to emphasise the importance of transport in a modern economy. That is why I find it hard to understand why various governments in the country, especially the Federal Government, is slow in developing that sector. It is the failure by the government to develop the transport sector that causes the frequent boat mishaps experienced on the sea. The reason is that since that sector has been abandoned, the few players therein are left unregulated.

Many of them use boats that are unfit to convey animals to transport human beings. This has led to the untimely deaths of several innocent passengers. No one knows the exact number of persons who have died as a result of the sector. Such figure, if known, will shock many Nigerians.

Water transportation is very vital to the growth of a modern economy. Besides conveying people and goods, where water transportation is effective, it reduces pressure on our roads and stem rural-urban migration. If those who are settled in our riverine communities know that they can ferry to the urban areas to do their businesses with little or no difficulties, it will encourage them to remain in their locations and may not think of migrating to the urban centres.

Besides the apathy government has developed towards that sector, it is also correct and may be interesting to know that many Nigerians are not interested in investing in the marine sector. Their reasons stem from the absence of regulatory framework to insecurity in the waterways. We know that in the recent past, there were series of reported cases of sea piracy. Many of them ended up with the death of passengers, while in other cases property were stolen and passengers taken to destinations other than they intended.

The absence of regulatory agencies as well as framework is also a major obstacle to the transportation business in the country. It beats my imagination to see wooden boats used in this modern era. If there was a regulatory framework, this practice would have been prohibited. Many of us are witnesses to the ugly incidents involving wooden boats, particularly in Rivers State.

For instance, in 2009, a wooden boat conveying passengers and goods from Port Harcourt to Bayelsa State caught fire mid sea. The casualties were better imagined than stated. The Port Harcourt – Bonny route is a regular host to boat mishaps with attendant casualties. The Okrika-Port Harcourt route despite its shortness is not exempted. Other riverine communities in the State are not spared these tragedies.

Outside Rivers State, several cases of boat accidents are rife with heavy casualty figures. In 2009, a ferry boat capsized in Lagos with many passengers reported dead. But one that was pathetic was the recent boat accident that claimed about 166 lives on the 18th of March, 2013 in Oron area. That boat was said to be wooden.

These and many avoidable boat mishaps in the country demonstrated the insensitivity of the authorities. It is an indication that marine transport has been left to rot. In view of the above development, there is need for governments at all levels to accord priority to the development of marine transportation in the country. This mode of transportation is as important as any other means of transportation which the government accords priority.

There has to be regulatory agencies in the various States and local government councils to sanitise and enhance effective use of sea transportation. This will complement other measures being put in place to reform the economy of the nation.

Ogwuonuonu wrote from Port Harcourt.

Frank Ogwuonuonu