By Steve Agbota
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has launched an investigation into the death of over 103 passengers in a boat mishap, along the Jebba Lake channel in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The authority, in a press statement, a copy of which was made available to newsmen by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Jubril Darda’u, said those responsible for the accident will be punished.
NIWA said the operators of the boat broke the inland waterways guidelines by navigating in the middle of the night, even as he said the boat was also overloaded.
“The Management of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) is deeply saddened by the boat mishap which occurred on June 12, 2023, along the Jebba Lake channel in the Lafiagi-Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, in which about 103 passengers are feared to have died.
“We condole with the families of those who lost their loved ones, and are particularly concerned with the huge number of casualties. This accident was clearly an unfortunate and avoidable one.
Preliminary investigations through our Area Manager in Minna/Kwara Area Office revealed that the boat driver and wedding guests were on the ill-fated voyage about 2:30am, which speaks volumes about the disregard for the laws regulating Inland Waterways navigation.
“Furthermore, for a wooden boat to have allegedly carried more than 200 passengers, at once, without using life jackets and sailing in the night, was certainly gross-overloading and misconduct.”
NIWA, however, commiserated with the government of Kwara State, stressing that the authority won’t allow boat operators to continue breaking waterways’ codes.
“While we extend our commiserations to the government and people of Kwara State, we will, in line with extant laws and regulations, investigate this callous incident and prosecute those found culpable. NIWA, as an authority, will not fold its arms and allow reckless boat operators flouting our safety guidelines and killing innocent commuters,” the statement added.