River boat accidents are a recurring issue in Nigeria, a West African nation where overloading, lax safety regulations, the absence of life jackets and poor maintenance often lead to deadly tragedies. Nighttime sailing is outlawed across the country, but the ban remains poorly enforced.

Dozens of people are feared dead after a boat capsized in north-central Nigeria. The boat was ferrying more than 300 passengers on the River Niger when it overturned on Tuesday night, said Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) head Abdullahi Baba Arah.

Boat accidents are common on Nigeria’s poorly regulated waterways, particularly during the rainy season when rivers and lakes swell