By Uzor Odigbo
Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa, (MOWCA), Dr Paul Adalikwu has commiserated with the governments of Nigeria and Democratic Republic of Congo on the recent boat accidents that reportedly caused the death of over 110 persons.
Adalikwu expressed the sympathies of the MOWCA Secretariat to the West and Central African countries whom he described as strategic partners in the organisation’s move for a safer and cost effective maritime transportation in the sub region.
The MOWCA SG urged all state and non state actors to acquaint themselves with Safety of Lives at Sea (SOLAS) procedures even when traveling within inland waterways especially chapters 3 and 4 which deal with provision of life saving appliances and radio communication gadgets.
He restated MOWCA’s commitment to safety of navigation on inland waterways across the region which necessitated its first workshop for ferry operators held in Libreville, Gabon from July 15 -18 , 2024.
According to him, the workshop was done in collaboration with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Maritime Rescue Foundation (IMRF) to promote safe practices and prevent loss of lives .
The MOWCA SG said the organisation will continue partnering with member countries to promote safe practices and provide technical support for countries to harness their potentials for fisheries, transportation, hydropower, agriculture, tourism and other benefits in the value chain of marine endowment.
Dr Adalikwu urged member states to tighten regulations in areas of water craft worthiness, prevention of overloading, avoiding night travels where there are no navigational aids and insistence on fitting of safety wears like functioning life jackets allotted to each passenger based on ferries carriage capacity.
He directed that the MOWCA flag be flown at half mast for a week in honour of the deceased passengers and crew members
At least 78 people have drowned and many more are missing after a boat belived to be carrying 278 passengers capsized on Thursday October 3,2024 , just a few hundred metres from the shore of Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The accident happened just as the vessel, MV Merdy, was about to dock at the port of Kituku, just outside the city of Goma, after crossing the lake from the town of Minova.
In Nigeria, On October 1, 2024 a boat conveying over 300 passengers to Gbajibo for a religious activity capsized in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State where no fewer than 41 persons reportedly lost their lives.
