Inland water transport (IWT) is a vital mode for Nigeria’s riverine communities, yet it remains hazardous and technologically underdeveloped. While Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking, the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and real-time monitoring have improved IWT safety internationally, the extent and contextual suitability of such technologies in Nigeria are undocumented. This study assessed the application of ten safety technologies, GPS tracking, AIS, closed-circuit television (CCTV), very high frequency (VHF) radio, satellite phones, distress alert systems, communication tools, Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS), online ticketing and smart cards, across Lagos, Niger and Kogi States. A structured questionnaire measuring six attributes (availability, applicability, accessibility, functionality, safety contribution and flexibility) on a five-point Likert scale was administered to 512 stakeholders comprising boat operators, passengers, regulators and safety officers. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance. Basic, low-cost technologies ranked highest: GPS tracking recorded the highest applicability (mean = 3.45, SD = 0.94) and was affirmed as safety-enhancing by 67.6% of respondents, followed by communication tools (63.9%) and online ticketing (60.4%). Advanced systems ranked lowest, with AIS (39.6%), ECDIS (38.3%) and satellite phones (32.0%) constrained by cost, infrastructure and technical capacity. Differences across technologies were statistically significant. The findings indicate that IWT safety in Nigeria is best advanced through phased investment in affordable, contextually appropriate technologies, supported by policy reform and stakeholder capacity building, rather than through the wholesale importation of advanced systems designed for high-resource settings.