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.

Yusuf Mubarak     Musa Abdullahi     Olatunde Olukoya     Oniyangi     Lotus Bank     Kumbi Titiloye     Titus Ashaolu     Amada Jidda     Abdulrazaq Solihudeen     John Olobayo     Funmi Salau     Ajasse-Ipo     Olabode George Towoju     Olokoba Sulyman     Iponrin     Turaki     Jaigbade Alao     Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital     Oke-Kura     Michael Nzekwe     Gabriel Fashanu     Ballah     Ilorin Innovation Hub     Lithium Deposit     Towobola Abdulrahman Toyin     Nigerian Correctional Service     Sulu Babaita Isiaka     Yusuf AbdulRasheed     Ahmed Bayero     Musibau Akanji     Eghe Igbinehi     Oni Adebayo     Metro Park     Olubukola Kifayat Adedeji     QuickWin     Al-Hikmah Radio     Yusuf Abubakar     Lai Gobir     Lai Mohammed     Yusuf Amuda Abubakar     Bello Bature     Sunset Workers     Maigidasanma     Abdullahi Samari     Maja     A.O. Belgore     Kabir Shagaya     Labour Party     Niguel Gallando Marcias     Rueben Parejo     Colleges Of Education Academic Staff Union     Towoju     Standard Organization Of Nigeria     Adegoke Bamidele     Abubakar Abdulraheem     National Information Technology Development Agency     HICA     Baba Isale     Hajj     Yekini Adio     Abubakar Atiku     KWASIEC     Tunde Oyawoye     Bolaji Aladie     Abegunde Goke     Tunde Kazeem     Dairo Kunle Paul     Kemi Adeosun     Patience Jonathan     Abdulrahman Onikijipa     Voices Of Tomorrow     Ilorin West     Abdulmumini AbdulRazaq     Tunji Folami     AGF Abdulrazaq     Dan-Kazeem     Abdulquawiy Olododo    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Radio Kwara     Balogin Alanamu     Rueben Parejo     Sobi Specialist Hospital     Henry Olaosebikan     Raliat Islamic Foundation     Zara Umar     Rotimi Oyedepo     Ekiti     Kwara 2023     Nagode     Erubu Oba Zubair     Edu     Kwara South     Press Release     Alumni Association Of The Federal Polytechnic Offa     Najim Yaasin     Kwara Apc     KWATMA     Simeon Ajibola     Abdulkadir Jimoh     Dasuki Belgore     Shola Odetundun     Mohammed Yisa     Funmi Salau     Kwara Basketball Association     International Aviation College     Galadiman Ngeri     Taofeek Sanusi     Ilorin East     Aliyu Muyideen     Wahab Kunle Shittu     Shoprite     Ajuloopin     Ahmad Ali     Dagbalodo     Afonja     Okanlawon Taiwo     Ilorin Metro Park     Lithium Deposit     Sherif Shagaya     Sam Onile     Mamman Saba Jibril     Unilorin FM     Eleja     FERMA     Olateju Lukman     Iponrin     Christopher Odetunde     Abdulfatai Baakini     KFA     Olatunji Abdulmumeen     Abdulmumini Sanni Jawondo     Ramat Oganija     Centre For Community Empowerment And Poverty Eradication     07039448763     NSCIA     Agbarigidoma     Obayomi Azeez     Obasanjo     Musbau A. Akanji     Kwara State Fire Service     Saliu Oluwole     Raji Ayodele Kamaldeen     Guber Aspirant     Ajibola Saliu Ajia     Usman Yunusa     HICA     Bisi Oyeleke     Sola Saraki University     Katibi Ibraheem Adeola     Olabanji Orilonishe     Abdulraufu Mustapha     Tayo Awodiji     Mary Arinde     Odolaye Aremu     Countryside Emerging Leaders Fellowship