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.

Ayodele Shittu     Abubakar Usman Jos     Kwara State Governor     Mike Omotosho     Shehu Alimi Foundation     Isapa     Joseph Daudu     Sobi FM     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants     Akom Construction And Engineering Synergy Ltd     Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir     Ahman Pategi     Lithium     Peter Amogbonjaye     Baakini     GAMA     Abdulmajeed Abdullahi     Okin Biscuit     Tunde Kazeem     SARS     Dairo Kunle Paul     Idowu Laro     Abdulraheem Yusuf     2017 Budget     Maja     SSA Youth Engagement     Ndakene     Al-Adaby     Abdulrahman Abdulrasak     Ahmed     Bilikisu Oniyangi     Femi Gbajabiamila     Bluenile Associates     Aishat Sulu-Gambari     Babatunde Idiagbon     Saba Mamman Daniel     Abdullahi Saadudeen Alikinla     Charcoal     Daud Adeshola     Elesie Of Esie     Vasolar Consortium     Ayekale     Markaz Arabic And Islamic Training Institute, Agege     Moses Afolayan     Abatemi-Usman     Yusuf Amuda Abubakar     Shehu Salau     International Aviation College     Centre For Digital Economy     New Nigeria People’s Party     Labour Party     Tafida Of Kaiama     Kayode Ibrahim     Bolaji Nagode     Mustapha AbdulGaniyu     Oniyangi Kunle Sulaiman     Edu     Olaoye B. Felix     Ilorin Innovation Hub     Muhammed Akanbi     Samuel Adaramola     Cornelius Fawenu     Third Estate     Curfew     Ronke Adeyemi     Raimi Iyanda     Moremi High School     Towoju     Plat Technologies     Unilorin FM     Hassan Oyeleke     Kola Adesina     Ibrahim Labaika     Afonja     Abdulwahab Olarewaju Issa     Abdulmumini Jawondo     Lotus Bank    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Abdulquawiy Olododo     Yahaya A Paniyaro     United Nigeria Congress Party     ANCOPPS     Gbemi Saraki     Clara Nwachukwu     George Funsho Adebayo     Lithium     Timothy Olatunde Fadipe     Salami Adekunle     JMK Construction Company Limited     Mahmud Ayinla Giwa     Mahmud Ajeigbe     Crystal Corner Shops     Eruku     Omupo     Iqra Books     Admiralty Villa     Saka Saadu     Amasa     Alfa Yahaya Road     National Union Of Road Transport Workers     Oba Abdulrahim     Ayodele Shittu     Kamoru Kadiri     Olayinka Jelili Yusuf     Sulaiman Gado     JUSUN     Ilorin Curfew     Emir Of Shonga     Tunji Ajanaku     Abubakar Ndakene     Afolayan     Mohammed Khadijat Kubura     Hassan Abdulazeez Elewu     Ita-Nmo Market     Micheal Imoudu     Saheed Alakoso     A.O. Belgore     Kayode Oyin Zubair     Ayobami Akanbi     Manzuma     Ganmo     Issa Oloruntogun     Oloje     Wakilin Mata Lafiagi     Woro     Mutawali Of Ilorin     Borgu     Doyin Agbamu     Dan Iya Of Ilorin     Kola Bukoye     Federal Road Maintenance Agency     Alapado     International Aviation College     Oniye     Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir     Owode Market     Kayode Zubair     Femi Agbaje     Muhammad Toyin Sanusi     Mahfouz Adedimeji     Bio Ibrahim     Jawondo     C2c@kwarastate.gov.ng     Elesie Of Esie     Elerin Of Adanla     Oba Abu     COEASU     Maigida Soludero Transit     Aliyu Salihu     Oluwole Dupe     Seed Technologies     Owu Fall     Islamic Development Bank     Yunus Lawal     AbdulQowiy Olododo