Kwara Lawmakers Call for National Waterways Authority Action to Prevent Boat Accidents
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.
Students Union Government Mohammed Ibrahim Olatunde Michaels Assayomo Abdullahi Saadudeen Alikinla Abubakar Ndakene Olatunde Olukoya Ilorin Innovation Hub Jimba Babatunde Sambo Murtala Suleiman Yahya Alapansapa Valsolar-Kwara Company Limited Elections Erin-ile Ahmad Lawan Zaratu Umar Mohammed Lawal Wahab Kunle Shittu Kishira Jide Ashonibare Minister Rotimi Oyedepo Muhammad Toyin Sanusi Nigerian Correctional Service College Of Health Musa Aibinu Lola Olabayo Durosinlohun Kawu Bola Olukoju Oniwa Gamji Members Association Yusuf Lawal Amuda Aluko Olaiya Victor Mobolaji Oloruntoyosi Thomas KFA Abdulraheem Yusuf Tafidan Kaiama Memunat Monsuma Olanrewju Okanlawon Musa Moro Hassan Taiye Salam Binta Sulyman Ilesha-Baruba-Gwanara UTME Facebook Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission Kwara Apc Niyi Ogundiran Umar Adelodun Grillo Abdulhakeem Amao Haliru Yahaya Eleja Sulyman Age AbdulKareem Lanre Badmus Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory Abdulkareem Alabi Taofik Abiodun Ahmed Wahab Issa Yunus Lawal Young Progressives Party Baba-Isale Bamidele Aluko Lanre Aremu Presidential Election Joshua Adeyemi Adimula Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence Agboola Abdulraheem Sheu Ndanusa Usman Nigeria Computer Society Coalition Of Kwara North Groups Hassan Oyeleke Toyosi Thomas Toyin Falola Oke-Odo Ayodele Olaosebikan

