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.

Abioye Bello     Atiku Abubakar     Saba Jibril     Sa\'adu Salau     Lithium Deposit     Emir Of Shonga     Ademola Kiyesola     Abdulsalam A. Yusuf     Ganmo Power Sub-Station     Kwara Restoration Project     Patigi Regatta     Mahe Abdulkadir     Principal Private Secretary     Yahaya Abdulkareem     Majlis For Sadaqah, Zakat And Waqf     Baruba     CKNG     Chartered Institute Of Personnel Management Of Nigeria     Danladi     Olabode Towoju     Isiaka Alikinla     Bello Abubakar     IHS Towers     ASMAU PLAZA     Shuaibu Yaman Abdullahi     Sobi Specialist Hospital     Na\'Allah     Sobi FM     Suleiman Idris     BIR     Apado     John Obuh     Gbemisola Saraki     New Model Police Station     Moshood Kashimawo Abiola     Ahmed Shuaib Buranga     Gbenga Adebayo     Opolo Global Innovation Limited     Iyabo Dupe Adekeye     Charcoal     Saidu Yaro Musa     KWSUED     Olajumoke Monsura Gafar     Idowu Laro     Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu     Tinubu Legacy Forum     NFAI     James Ayeni     Michael Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies     Lanre Jimoh     Eghe Igbinehin     Iyaloja-General     Abdulrauf Aliyu     Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari     Hausa     LEAH Charity Foundation     Garba Dogo     Oke-Ero     High Court     LABTOP     Smart School     AIT Ilorin     Habeeb Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Aliyu Muyideen     Ogidi-Oloje     Kwara Polytechnic     Mahfouz Adedimeji     University Road     Opobiyi     Ijagbo     Mohammed Danjuma     Makama Of Ilorin     Arinola Fatimoh Lawal     Mutawali Of Ilorin     Omupo     Zainab Abass     NaAllah    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Bashir Badawi     Oasis Muslim Care Foundation     Abubakar Ndakene     Usman Alkali Baba     Mukhtar Shagaya     Salaudeen Oyewale     UNILORIN Alumni Association     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Tunde Kazeem     College Of Education     Femtech     Olaosebikan     Adesoye     Sabi     Lawal Olohungbebe     Ethical College     BECE     Sardauna     Quareeb     Kwara State Printing And Publishing Corporation     Bolakale Kawu Agaka     Oloruntoyosi Thomas     Ilorin International Airport     Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Abubakar Abdulraheem     Labaeka     Guber Aspirant     Maryam Ado Bayero     Aso Ofi     Shuaib Olarongbe     Raliat Islamic Foundation     Baba Idris     Abdulganiy Abimbola Abdussalam     Eleja     Kunle Suleiman     Ubandawaki     Afolasade Opeyemi Kemi     Sunset Workers     Kola Adesina     Usman Yunusa     Edu     Kwarareports     Rapheal Ashaolu     Ogidi-Oloje     Iyiola Oyedepo     Jani Ibrahim     Abdulwahab Ololele     New Naira Notes     Oba-Solagberu     Shuaibu Yaman Abdullahi     NITDA     Paul Olawoore     Diagnostic Centre     Sunday Fagbemi     Saliu Tunde Bello     Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi     Shehu Salau     Toyin Abdullahi     Jalala     Women Radio     Aisha Abodunrin Ibrahim     Olam Food Ingredients     Imam Gambari     Umar Sanda Yusuf     Olumide Daniel Ibitoye     Sherif Sagaya     Ahman Pategi     Aishatu Ahmed Gobir     Harmony Holdings     Voices Of Tomorrow     Okin Biscuit     Ibrahim Orire     Oba Abdulraheem     Alanamu     EndSARS     Jumoke Gafar     Okin High School