At least 164 people have died when a wooden boat capsized off the coast of Nigeria.

The boat conveying 166 passengers capsized some 40 nautical miles off Nigerian coast yesterday.

The country's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said only two persons survived from the boat.

The boat was heading to the Central African country of Gabon from Nigeria's town, Oron in the oil-rich Delta region.

The head of NEMA, David Akate said the passengers could be traders.