NIWA Investigates Niger State Boat Mishap, Commiserate With Family of Victims

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) Dr. George Moghalu has said that the agency is investigating the cause of a boat mishap which occurred at Kija in Munyan Local Government Area of Niger State in which about 28 people lost ther lives.

Moghalu in a statement on Tuesday commiserate with the government and people of Niger State, and in particular, the families of those that lost loved ones in the boat mishap that occurred.

He blamed the accident on boat operators who flagrantly flout the laid down safety rules and regulations by NIWA.

“The Authority is particularly pained by the unwarranted loss of lives and property due to disregard for established rules and regulations guiding passenger ferry operations in the country”

“For safety reasons, night sailing is banned; the use of life jackets and other life-saving appliances is mandatory, even as over-loading of boats is a criminal offence. Yet boat skippers and crew are fond of flouting these rules”

“Nevertheless, NIWA will continue to engage in aggressive enlightenment and education of ferry operators and passengers alike”

“While extending our condolences once again, we shall investigate this incident to unravel the immediate and remote causes, with a view to preventing a re-occurrence of similar incidents. We wish therefore to urge boat operators to abide by all safety requirements” he said

The unfortunate accident occurred on Sunday.

The occupants of the boat were 100 passengers coming from Zumba from Tija village of Munya Local Government Area of the state.

The incident happened on May 8, at about 6 p.m 50 metres to their destination when the boat hit a stump of a tree and broke.

About 65 people survived, 28 corpses recovered by local divers while seven people are still missing.