BOAT MISHAP: NIWA Commiserates with the People and Govt of Niger State

Oru Leonard

The National Inland Waterways Authority Management has commiserated with the people ànd government of Niger State in Nigeria, especially.the families that lossed their loved ones during the boat mishap at Kija in Munayan Local Government Area.

This is contained in a press release signed by the Managing Director/ CEO of the Authority, Mr George Moghalu.

He lamented that the Authority is deeply pained by the unwarranted loss of life and property due absolute disregard to rule and regulations guiding inland water transport operations in the country.

” For safety reasons, night sailing is banned; the use of life saving jackets and other life saving appliances is mandatory, even as overloading of boats is a criminal offence. Yet boat skippers and crews keep flouting the rules he lamented. Nevertheless, NIWA will continue to engage in aggressive enlightenment of ferry operators and passengers alike” he expressed.

NIWA urged boat operators to abide by all safety requirements and while Investigation will be carried out to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the accident.

Thirty people drowned when an overloaded boat capsized in central Nigeria’s Niger sttate. The boat ferrying 100 local traders split into two after hitting a stump during a windstorm as they were returning from a market on Saturday.

Photo credit: Premium Times