The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has confirmed the rescue of over 100 passengers after a wooden boat carrying nearly 200 people capsized in Niger State.
According to a preliminary statement from NIWA, which was sighted by our correspondent, the tragic incident which occurred during a night voyage between Gbajibo Mudi and New Gbajibo, is believed to have been caused by overloading.
The incident, involving a wooden boat carrying approximately 200 passengers, took place at around 8:30 p.m on Tuesday. while the boat was traveling from Gbajibo Mudi to New Gbajibo.
NIWA confirmed that the boat capsized due to suspected overloading stressing that rescue operations are still underway, with more than 100 passengers already rescued from various points along the water channel.
NIWA expressed deep regret over the tragic boat mishap that occurred in Niger State, despite the Authority’s ongoing efforts to reduce such accidents.
However, NIWA stressed the importance of adhering to safety guidelines, reminding boat operators to avoid overloading and the dangers of night travel.
The Authority warned that continued disregard for safety regulations would only increase the likelihood of future tragedies.
As the rescue mission continues, NIWA reassured the public of its commitment to ensuring safety on Nigeria’s waterways and urged operators to comply with existing regulations to prevent further mishaps.
“While the Authority maintained that rescue efforts are still ongoing, it said that as of the last count, it has rescued more than 100 passengers from different parts of the channel.
“The Authority therefore warns boat operators to desist from flouting safety rules, including ban on night travel and overloading of boats” the statement read in part.
