Meanwhile, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has said that the Lalek Marine boat which capsized Friday night with 14 passengers rescued, failed to adhere to 6pm sailing regime guiding water transportation services in Lagos.
This was coming contained in a statement on Saturday in Lagos by the Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Engineer, Sarat Lara Braimah.
Braimah, in a preliminary report, stated that apart from violating the extant time of operation regime which is at 6pm and not 8pm, the boat operator also overloaded the boat against the Covid-19 protocol which allows only 60 per cent carrying capacity for all types of boats in order to encourage social distancing.
She however said that the agency responded immediately which helped in the rescue of 14 passengers.
"We at NIWA responded immediately and joined the Marine Police, LASWA and other concerned agencies to rescue the 14 passengers and also recovered six others already drowned, with one missing", she explained.
The NIWA Lagos boss, further explained that the Ebute Ero jetty, which was the departure point of the ill-fated boat will henceforth be monitored by NIWA Police pending the conclusion of investigation to the incident.
"Also, the owner of the boat is being tracked down by NIWA to come to explain how the unfortunate incident happened and if need be, the collaborators of this whole unfortunate episode"
Braimah, nevertheless explained that NIWA management had a month ago offered waiver and reduced sundry fees and other operational charges across board in the brown water economy to help stakeholders stick to post Covid- 19 protocols and to check tendencies that might encourage violations of extant regulation regime.
"The Managing director of NIWA, Dr George Moghalu knew that some operators might be tempted to make quick money to make up for the lost opportunities and financial loss experienced during the lockdown and therefore was futuristic and proactive to reduce the fees and charges, knowing the expected impact of the new normal on operators but we can see from what happened that some operators are so uncaring and selfish to end the lives of innocent people through blatant violation of the rules of engagement"
"NIWA is still investigating the situation, looking at various scenarios and engaging other agencies and boat operators’ association to nip this type of avoidable incident in the bud". She stated, the statement added.
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