Kwara Boat mishap saddens NIWA, says night accident avoidable
By Uzor Odigbo
The Management of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) expressed deep sadness over the boat mishap that occurred on 12th June, 2023, along the Jebba Lake channel in the Lafiagi-Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State in which about 103 passengers are feared to have died.
The agency in a press release acknowledged the ugly incident and said, “We condole with the families of those that have lost their loved ones, and are particularly concerned with the huge number of casualties.
NIWA insisted that the accident was clearly an unfortunate and avoidable one adding that preliminary investigations through their Area office in Minna/Kwara revealed that the boat driver and wedding guests were on the ill-fated voyage about 2:30am, which speaks volumes about the disregard for the laws regulating Inland Waterways navigation.
The press release read thus, “For a wooden boat to have allegedly been carrying more than 200 passengers at once without using life jackets and sailing in the night was certainly gross-overloading and misconduct.
“While we extend our commiserations to the government and people of Kwara State, we will in line with extant laws and regulations, investigate this callous incident and prosecute those found culpable.
NIWA as an Authority will not fold its arms and allow reckless boat operators flaunting our safety guidelines and killing innocent commuters
