Another Boat Mishap Averted As LASWA Rescue 30 Persons

Less than one month after a boat accident that claimed the lives of more than 10 persons in the Festac area of Lagos, another boat mishap was averted at the weekend when a boat carrying 30 people was rescued by Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA).

The accident occurred when the boat ran out of fuel mid way into her journey, a development which cut off the engines of the boat and the vessel began to drift. Our correspondent learnt that the boat had loaded passengers from the Elegabta Ebute Ero jetty and was rescued around the Victoria Garden City (VGC) area of Lagos on her way to Ijede in Ikorodu.

Mr. Tayo Gbajumo, a senior operations officer of the authority confirmed that the boat took-off from Ijede area of Ikorodu, but, ran out of fuel midway to its destination.

According to Gbajumo, the boat; ‘Royal Waves’ loaded passengers at about 6 o’clock in the evening and was only rescued at about 8: 30 pm.

He stated that immediately the boat ran into problem, passengers on the board who had numbers of LASWA’s officials started calling until they were rescued.

Gbajumo however reiterated the fact that the ban on night travel was still in force, adding that anybody caught traveling at night will be made to face the law.

One of the recued passengers, who identified himself as Mr Oladeji Adeyemi also confirmed to our correspondent that the boat took-off from ELegbata to Ijede when she ran out of fuel.

Adeyemi said that immediately the boat stopped, some of the passengers who were using boat for the first time became panicky and agitated.

He explained that shortly after LASWA’s officials arrived, the ferry company sent another boat with fuel for the distressed boat.

“It was a terrible day particularly for those that were entering boat for the first time, LASWA’s officials that came to our rescue 15 minutes after we made a distress call” Adeyemi said

According to the rescued passenger, there were 30 persons on the boat, 28 passengers and two boat operators.