NIWA Calabar Rescues Two Sand Miners After Boat Capsizes

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in Calabar rescued two young sand miners on Monday, November 4, 2024, after their boat capsized due to rough tidal waves along the Calabar channel.

According to NIWA’s Calabar Area Office, the incident occurred around 5 p.m. while their patrol team was conducting a routine water patrol.

Upon receiving a distress call, the patrol team quickly responded and found the two men, aged between 23 and 25, struggling to stay afloat. They were rescued just in time, gasping for breath at the scene of the accident.

Though the sand miners’ boat and its contents were completely submerged, the NIWA team successfully brought both men to safety, where they were resuscitated and later handed over to their families.

This incident highlights the critical role of NIWA’s routine patrols in ensuring safety and rapid response on Nigeria’s inland waterways.