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.

Ilorin Curfew     Village Alive Development Association     Hamidat Sulyman-Yusuf     Old Oyo     Saka Abimbola Isau     Sadiq Umar     Abdulganiyu Oladosu     Oba-Solagberu     Balikis Jawondo     Durosinlohun Atiku     Ilorin South Constituency     Saudat Abdulbaqi     Ibikunle Ogunleye     Timothy Olatunde Fadipe     Kwara United     Bayo Onimago     Ibrahim Mashood     Moshood Kashimawo Abiola     Al-Hikmah University     SAPZ Project     Nnazua     Oke-opin     Jalala     Gamji Members Association     Folajimi Aleshinloye     Jumoke F. Ajao     Aminu Ado Bayero     Charles Ibitoye     Isau     Yakubu Dogara     Third Estate     Okin Group     Gbenga Olawepo     Young Progressives Party     Lawyers Unite Against Corruption     Ilorin Talaka Parapo     Mazars Consulting     Offa Metropolitan Club     Soffiyyallah Kamaldeen     Public Holiday     PPS     Isiaq Khadeejah     Ishaq Abdulkarim     Muhammed Mahe Abdulkadir     Sidikat Uthman Ajibola     March 18     Chikanda     Alfa Modibbo Belgore     Kayode Yusuf     COVID-19 Palliatives     Garba Idris Ajia     Senate Presidency     EndSARS     Elections     Agboola Babatunde     Doyin Agbamu     National Information Technology Development Agency     MAI Akande     Yakubu Mohammed Abdullahi     Principal Private Secretary     Ganiyu Taofiq     T And K FOODS     Ayekale     Ilorin Durbar     NULGE     Idiagbon     Kwara Polytechnic     Garba Ayodele Wahab     Ekweremadu     Muslim Cementary     General Hospital, Ilorin     Mahmud Ayinla Giwa     New Naira Notes     Yoruba     Labour Party     Wahab Kunle Shittu     MINILS    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

CACOVID     Lafia Aliyu Korasabi     JAAC     Aisha Buhari     Kunbi Titiloye     EFCC     Sarafadeen Kayode Akorede     Patience Jonathan     Mamman Saba Jibril     Sam Onile     Olatunji Moronfoye     Aliyu Salihu     Suleiman Idris     Olaitan Buraimoh     Bashir Adigun     Nnazua     Kwara Restoration Project     Students Union Government     Busari Toyin Isiaka     Pacify Labs     Ibrahim Mashood     Yomi Adeboye     Apata Ajele Secondary School     Mubarak Oladosu     Belgore     Habeeb Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Abubakar Aliagan     Salmon Babatunde Salmon     SGBN     Umar Gunu     Olubukola Kifayat Adedeji     Amusement Park     Ogbondoroko     Olateju Lukman     David Adesina     Florence Saraki     BECE     Fulani     Nupe     Afolasade Opeyemi Kemi     Oke-Kura     Maigida Soludero Transit     Abdulrosheed Okiki     Dogara     Old Oyo     Ishaq Abdulkarim     Rachael Obisesan     Alore     Oasis Muslim Care Foundation     Tunde Mukaila Mustapha     Gabriel Fashanu     JUSUN     Olatunde Oyeyiola     Idowu Aremu     Valsolar-Kwara Company Limited     A.E. Afolabi     Eleja Taiwo Banu     Emir Of Ilorin     Halimah Perogi     Reuben Paraje     Gbenga Olawepo     Abdul-Rasheed Na\'Allah     Yakub Ali-Agan     Bello Abubakar     Ilofa     John Obuh     BIR     Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency     Saliu Oluwole     Charles Ibitoye     Femtech     Femi Agbaje     Musa Abdullahi     Bursary     IF-K     Ubandawaki     Umar Sanda Yusuf