In the aftermath of a tragic boat accident in Niger State, emergency teams have recovered 70 bodies, while around 150 passengers have been rescued. The incident occurred on Tuesday night when a wooden boat carrying 300 passengers capsized on the Gbajibo River in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.
The search for the remaining missing passengers is ongoing, with local divers and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) working together alongside the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
President Bola Tinubu has expressed his deep condolences to the people and government of Niger State. In a statement, the President directed NIWA to investigate the cause of the accident and implement stricter measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
He also emphasized the need for better enforcement of safety standards and ordered that boat operators who violate regulations, such as the ban on night sailing, be prosecuted.
NIWA officials revealed that the boat was operating illegally at the time of the incident. According to Mrs. Sarat Braimah, the Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, the ill-fated boat set sail at 8:30 p.m., which is a violation of the water transportation code that prohibits night sailing.
The boat was also overloaded, carrying 300 passengers on a wooden, carved vessel that lacked proper navigational aids and safety equipment such as life vests.
Braimah further explained that NIWA had stationed four water marshalls in the area where the incident occurred, but they had finished their duties for the day and were unaware of the boat’s departure. She said, “NIWA just constituted river marshalls… Mokwa LGA had four marshalls, but unfortunately, the boat operators sailed without their knowledge.”
The frequency of night sailing in the northern part of the country has become a major challenge for NIWA. Despite its ban, it remains a common practice, which Braimah described as a significant factor in many accidents.
In response to the latest tragedy, NIWA is now planning to enforce 24-hour surveillance on the waterways in the affected area. The authority is also increasing the number of river marshalls to ensure continuous monitoring and prevent night sailing.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago expressed his sadness over the repeated loss of lives due to boat accidents and promised to strengthen efforts to enforce safety regulations. “The recurring cases of boat mishaps in the state over the past few years are worrisome,” the governor stated, adding that the government would work harder to prevent further incidents.
