A Lagos State Ferry Services (LAGFERRY) boat, MF Eko Akete carrying 23 passengers have been submerged in the waters of Lagos, leaving survivors traumatized and raising concerns about safety protocols and accountability within the water transportation system in Lagos.
The incident which occurred on Monday evening after the 23 passengers boarded the vessel MF Eko Akete from Ebute Ero Terminal to Ipakodo Terminal. The vessel was captained by one Captain Preyeh with two deckhands.
According to one of the survivors of the mishap who simply identified herself as Mrs Adesiyan that the evening voyage commenced at approximately 5:40 pm under clear skies with no sign of rain. She noted that as the boat approached Third Mainland Bridge, passengers noticed that the waters became increasingly turbulent, causing distress among those on board.
Adesiyan said desperation filled the air as passengers cried out for help, but to their dismay, no assistance arrived. She stated that suddenly the boat’s engine on one side plunged into the water, and eventually, the last engine gave way, sending everyone aboard into the water.
She explained that some passengers found themselves trapped inside the submerged vessel, struggling to make their way to the rooftop, while they awaited rescue, crying out for help until approximately 8 pm when a wooden boat finally arrived to rescue some of the stranded passengers. Adesiyan stressed that the fate of three individuals still trapped beneath the submerged boat remains uncertain.
In a sense of frustration and abandonment, Adesiyan recalled that after being rescued, they returned to Ebute Ero Terminal, where they had initially boarded the ill-fated boat. She lamented that they were met with disappointment as no representative from the Lagos State Ferry Services (LAGFERRY) welcomed them or offered any form of apology for the traumatic ordeal they had endured.
The survivor stressed that the stranded passengers sought phones to contact their families, but none were provided. She lamented that they also lacked the means to return to their homes, as their bags and belongings had been lost in the accident, adding that some were forced to walk home in search of help.
In her words: “At about 5:40 pm we boarded the boat with no sign of rain. Before we got to Third Mainland Bridge, the boat started becoming wavy. We started screaming beckoning on the Captain to go back to Ebute Ero where we boarded the boat but the Captain said going back will be more dangerous for us. We were crying and calling for help but nobody came. By the time it was too much the Captain advised everyone to wear our jacket as we were staring at our death before us.
“Suddenly the engine of one side of the boat fell inside water until the last one crashed and everyone fell inside water. Some of us stucked inside the boat were struggling to get to the roof top. We managed to get to the roof of the boat and we were just there crying for help and we didn’t get any help until around 8pm when a wooden boat came to rescue some of us. We later heard that there were three people that were still stucked under the boat but we don’t know if they came out alive. Every one of us tapped with our Cowry card.
“The most painful aspect is that after the rescue, we all got to Ebute Ero Terminal but no person from LAGFERRY came to welcome us or apologise for the mishap. We were all begging for phones to reach our family nobody could give us phone, not even money for transport to go back home. All our bags and belongs fell inside tge water. Sone of us trekked home that day looking for help. This is quite unfortunate” Adesiyan lamented.
However, an official statement by the Managing Director of LAGFERRY services, Mr Ladi Balogun which was made available to our correspondent confirmed the incident. It noted that the same crew had successfully sailed the same boat earlier that morning from Ipakodo Terminal to Ebute Ero and CMS without any issues.
According to LAGFERRY, the incident transpired amidst stormy weather condition and turbulent tidal waves, as observed from the Surveillance System at Mile 2 Terminal adding that the observation triggered a swift response, mobilizing rescue efforts from its regulators and private boat operators.
The management of LAGFERRY stated that its officials have tried to reach the 23 passengers on the manifest, but succeeded talking to only three people. According to them, their findings revealed that most of the contacts given as the next of kin are not accurate.
LAGFERRY however stressed that there are ongoing efforts to remove the boat from the water, widen the investigation and the outcomes will be made public soon.
“On Monday evening, we had an unusual experience on the waterways with our boat – MF Eko Akete driven by Captain Preyeh with 2 Deckhands. The same crew sailed the same boat earlier in the morning from Ipakodo Terminal to Ebute Ero and CMS without any issues.
“We observed the stormy weather and turbulent tidal wave from the Surveillance System at Mile 2 Terminal; which led to our mobilization for rescue.
“Fortunately, all the 23 passengers onboard were rescued alive through combined efforts of our regulators and private boat operators. Personally, I tried to reach the 23 passengers on the manifest, I succeeded talking to 3 people.
“Our findings revealed that most of the contacts given as the next of kin are not accurate. As a model operator in the industry, we have instituted Passengers’ Liability Insurance for the passengers and Marine Hull Insurance for our boats, in case of accident.
“There are ongoing efforts to remove the boat from the water, widen the investigation and the outcomes will be made public soon. Some of the items have been recovered and will be return to owners at the end of the recovery process.
“I apologize unreservedly, for the communication gap as we have learnt our lessons. Please we need the utmost cooperation of all stakeholders to build a safe and sustainable water transportation in Lagos State” the statement read.
