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.

Ifelodun     Salman Suleiman     PPS     FOMWAN     Ajeigbe     Aisha Ahman-Pategi     United Nigeria Airline     Oasis Muslim Care Foundation     Sa\'adu Salau     Aishat Sulu-Gambari     Musa Abdullahi     Musa Ayinla Yeketi     Baruten     Suleman Abubakar     Adaramaja     Amada Jidda     Agor     Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board     Oba Abdulrahim     Onilu     Senate Presidency     Salaudeen Oyewale     Omotoso Musa     Students Union Government     Alliance For Democracy     Shuaib Jawondo     08001000100     Hamidu Olowo     Yemi Osinbajo     Abatemi Usman     Olugbense     Toyin Abdullahi     Ahmad Belgore     Sayomi     Olofa Of Offa     Ibraheem Adeola Katibi     Sarafadeen Kayode Akorede     NIPR     Eghe Igbinehin     Okin Biscuits     Ilorin Talaka Parapo (ITP)     Idris Amosa Saidu     Otunba Taiwo Joseph     ER-KANG Mining Nigeria Company Limited     Albert Ogunsola     Dele Momodu     KWTV     Ebola     Suleiman Idris     Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq     Oyedun Juliana Funke     Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria     Apaola     Salihu S. Yaru     IF-K     Abiodun Abdulkareem     Bukola Ajikobi     Kola Shittu     Sulyman Tejidini     Haliru Dantoro     Doyin Awoyale     Bahago     Eruku     Balikis Jawondo     Transition Implementation Committee     Kawu Baraje     Kola Adesina     Simon Sayomi     Ibrahim Labaika     Sadiq Buhari     Kubra Kazum     Issa Baba     Kwara South     Dauda Adeniran Adeshola     Fatai Garuba Labaka     Col. Ibrahim Taiwo     Kemi Adeosun    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Musa Abdullahi     Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu     Suwa-Arabs     Muhammad Toyin Sanusi     Abdullahi Adisa Akodudu     Yaman     Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab     Ghali Alaaya     Fareedah Dankaka     Alliance For Democracy     Quareeb Islamic Association     Gbugbu     Magaji Nda     Aliyu U. Tilde     Muslimah Entrepreneurship Forum     Salau Kabiru Abdullahi     Kassim Babamale     Titus Ashaolu     Eruku     Sunset Workers     Alfa Modibbo Belgore     Bareke     Owo Arugbo     Radio SBS     Ishaq Salman     Mufti Of Ilorin     Kayode Ibrahim     Mohammed Alabi Lawal     Abubakar Usman Jos     Leke Ogungbe     Mohammed Abdulahi     Olomu     Muhammad Fawaz Abubakar     2023 Elections     Nigeria Customs Service     Elewu     Noah Yusuf     Woro     Opobiyi     Amuda Musbau     Trader Moni     Kwara Restoration Project     Mustapha Akanbi     Surajudeen Akanbi     Hassanat Bello     IPSAS     COVID     Deji Ajani     Yunus Oniboki     Harafat E. Mukadam     Gbenga Olawepo     Salihu Ajia     Bolakale Ayo     Lateef Ademola Olatunji     Students Union Government     Bello John Olanrewaju     Dumagi     Abdulrazaq Solihudeen     Mahmud Ayinla Giwa     Ishaq Abdulkarim     Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development     Razaq Atunwa     Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari     Tsado Manman     Jimoh Akani     Ahmed Bayero     Tuesday Assayomo     Ekiti     CUTI     Aro Yahaya     SWAN     Ubandoma Of Ilorin     Sunday Popo-Ola     Bola Magaji     Balogun Ajikobi     Federal College Of Education (Special), Afon     Funmilayo Mohammed