Kwara Lawmakers Call for National Waterways Authority Action to Prevent Boat Accidents

Date: 2024-10-09

According to Voice of Nigeria, the Kwara State House of Assembly has directed the Ministry of Works and Transport to collaborate with the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to enhance regulation and enforcement of safety guidelines on water operations. This directive was issued following a Matter of General Public Importance brought forward by Hon. Ahmed Baba (APC/Banni/Gwaria/Adena), concerning the tragic boat accident on October 1 in Gwajibo, Kaiama Local Government Area.

The house members emphasized the need for the deployment of NIWA staff to all loading points on Nigerian waterways to ensure strict adherence to safety protocols and prevent future tragedies.

In a statement, the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, expressed his condolences to the people of Kaiama LGA, stressing the urgency of enforcing water transport regulations to safeguard lives. He added that proper regulation at loading points is crucial to ensuring the safety of waterway operations across the state.

The resolutions passed by the assembly call for increased collaboration between state and federal bodies, emphasizing the role of NIWA in enforcing precautionary measures and safety guidelines for water transport services.

“The State Emergency Management Agency should liaise with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide the survivors and families of the victims with relief materials.

“This is to help cushion the effects of the disaster on the Gwajibo Mudi community,” he said.

The Speaker thereafter commended Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his prompt response and for the shows of solidarity with the people of the area regarding the sad occurrence.

Leading the debate, Baba drew the attention of the House to the shocking news of a boat mishap on the waterways of Niger.

He said the wooden boat, with 285 persons on board and consisting 283 natives of Gwajibo Mudi, left the shores of the riverine community enroute the neighbouring Gwajibo community in Niger.

”They were on their way to attend the annual Maolud Nabbiy but but their capsized in the middle of River Niger at a location within the territory of Niger shortly before arriving its destination.

”This avoidable accident apparently happened as a result of overloading, as findings revealed that the wooden boat with a capacity for 200 passengers only was loaded with 285 on the ill-fated journey.

”At the conclusion of rescue operations, only 92 victims were rescued alive while 191 corpses of persons who are all indigenes of Gwajibo Mudi in Kaiama were recovered.

”The unfortunate incident had left many families and households in Gwajibo Mudi community devastated while the entire Kwara state are in a state of mourning.

”Boat mishaps seem to have become a regular occurrence on our waterways and this calls for serious attention,” Baba said.

The lawmaker added that it was obvious that the boat carried more passengers than its capacity while the passengers also ignored the necessary safety measures.

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Alfa Modibo Belgore     GRA     Daud Adeshola     Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah     Raliat Elelu-Habeeb     Trade Lenda SME Fair     Tunde Akanbi     Alloy Chukwuemeka     Odo-Owa     Centre For Community Empowerment And Poverty Eradication     Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Umar Adelodun     Talaka Parapo     Yomi Adeboye     Adamu Atta     SSA Youth     Ojuekun     Ibrahim Agboola Gambari     Neo Mundo Ltd     Amusement Park     Student Learning Support Helpline     Shuaib Abdulkadir     Funmilayo Mohammed     Halimat Yusuf     Afusat Nike Ibrahim     Salau Kabiru Abdullahi     Muhammad Mustapha Suleiman     Dele Momodu     Tayo Alao     Seed Technologies     Amoyo     Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development     AbdulGaniyu Kareem     Iponrin     Sanusi Abubakar     Rafiu Ajakaye     Clara Nwachukwu     Abdulrazak Shehu Akorede     ASUU     Yusuf Abdulkadir     Mohammed Haruna     Bayer Nigeria Limited     TESCOM     Assayomo     Ndakene     Kolawole Bashirat     Yaru     Kehinde Boyede     PPS     Tunde Mukaila Mustapha     Abdulsalam A. Yusuf     Samuel Elizabeth Keatswa     Ilorin Emirate Stakeholders Forum     Kwabes     Kwara North     Samari     Ajikobi     Ilorin Innovation Hub     Demola Banu     Mohammed Jimoh Faworaja     Rotimi Oyedepo     Salihu Yahaya     Olam Food Ingredients     Katibi Ibraheem Adeola     Azeez Bello     Labour Party     Haliru Dantoro     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Shehu Salau     Sola Saraki Educational Foundation     Lukman Adeloyin     Rice Farmers Association Of Nigeria     Lola Olabayo     Mashood Dauda     Sebastine Obasi     Lanre Issa Onilu     Dan-Kazeem    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Dumagi     Offa     Musibau Akanji     Yahaya Abdulkareem     Issa Oloruntogun     Earlyon Technologies     Raji AbdulRasaq     Patience Jonathan     Musa Alhassan Buge     Mohammed Halidu     Taofik Abdulkareem Babaita     Quareeb     NURTW     Maryam Nurudeen     Peter Obi     Valsolar Consortium     Olaoye B. Felix     Ilesha-Baruba-Gwanara     Binta Abubakar Mora     Saad Omo\'ya     Orisun Igbomina     Kuliyan Geri     Chief Imam Of Offa     Emir Of Ilorin     Salman Alada     Ayobami Seriki     Abubakar Abdulraheem     Centre For Digital Economy     Bola Tinubu     Olaiya Zuberu     Sadiq Umar     Wasiu Onidugbe     Saliu Alamoyo     Gaa Olobi     Babatunde Idiagbon     Hameed Oladipupo Ali     Vasolar Consultoria     Adeniyi Ojo     Oyawoye     Orire     Chief Imam Of Lafiagi     Reuben Paraje     Rashidi Yekini     Post-utme     TVC Female National Debate     Veterinary Teaching Hospital     Standard Organization Of Nigeria     Zulu Gambari     CCB     Muhammed Taofeeq Abdulrazaq     Clara Nwachukwu     Ilorin Amusement Park     George Funsho Adebayo     ASKOMP     Lanre Issa Onilu     CACOVID     Convocation Ceremonies     Wahab Agbaje     Oko     Albert Ogunsola     Alabi Lawal     Ademola Kiyesola     Galadiman Ngeri     Yakubu Mohammed Abdullahi     Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies     Lukman Adeloyin     Elerin Of Adanla     Mahmud Babatunde Baker     Odo-Owa     Umar Saro     AbdulQowiy Olododo     Oke-Ogun     Olukotun Of Ikotun     Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Facemasks     Abdulganiyu AbdulAzeez     Medinat Folorunsho Salman