The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has been praised by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) for its prompt response to the recent boat accident in the Niger State’s Borgu Local Government Area.
The Authority’s Assistant General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Suleiman Makama, stated in a statement that the team’s swift rescue efforts saved the lives of at least 50 passengers aboard the awry wooden boat.
When the incident occurred, the boat was carrying passengers from a condolence visit to the Dugga community, according to preliminary investigations.
The incident, according to NIWA, underscored how crucial safety awareness is for boat owners and passengers who traverse the country’s waterways.
Also read: Niger Boat Accident: 27 People Dead
50 passengers were saved while search and rescue operations are still ongoing for potential missing persons, according to the statement.
In addition, the Authority made further disclosures as to how aggressively the agency is conducting ongoing inquiries into the boat operator.
While lauding NSEMA’s cooperation, NIWA cautioned boat operators against overloading, arguing that strict safety standards and capacity limits are still essential to preventing accidents on the waterways.
The statement read, “NIWA reiterates its commitment to ensuring the safety of all passengers and users of Nigeria’s waterways at all times.”
In the accident, 27 people were confirmed to have died.
The NIWA rescue team arrived at the scene about two hours later, according to eyewitnesses, and the incident occurred on Tuesday.
The wooden boat reportedly had 138 passengers and capsized along Kainji Lake’s Shagunu–Dunga axis. With the aid of life jackets, 46 men, 58 women, and an undisclosed number of children were saved during the NIWA-led rescue operations.
Sadly, there have already been 19 bodies recovered on Tuesday and 8 on Monday.
Source: Channels TV
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