YEKINI JIMOH reviews how over 200 persons set off from Kupa in Kogi State on a journey of no return, noting that disobedience to safety regulations and lack of infrastructure and human error, were major factors that led to the mishap.
It was a black Thursday, November 28, when over 200 people, predominantly women, petty traders, and artisans drowned in River Niger during a night boat journey from Kupa in Kogi State, along the Dambo-Ebuchi section of the river, to Katcha weekly market in Niger State.
One can only imagine the last moments of those passengers when the boat was sinking – women, children and men shouting and trying to hold onto one another to avoid death.
The incident brought to fore the widespread disregard for safety regulations, including the failure to provide life jackets for passengers. The enforcement of the Waterways Transportation Code has been lax, which contributes to the high incidence of water accidents. Many operators do not adhere to safety protocols, increasing the risk of mishaps.
Despite calls for stricter enforcement of safety regulations by authorities like the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), compliance remains an issue. The penalties for violations are often insufficient to deter unsafe practices among operators.
These challenges highlight the need for improved regulatory frameworks, better safety practices, and infrastructure development to enhance the safety and efficiency of water transportation in Kogi State.
An eyewitness, Mallam Suleiman Yahaya, who spoke to Nigerian Tribune, said the boat left at about 7pm on that faithful day to Katcha for the weekly market in Niger State.
He added that the boat was full to capacity, which he said, was not unusual for them, adding that no trader was ready to be left behind by the boat.
According to him, missing that trip meant that the trader would have to wait for another market day before they could move their produce to the market. As a result, every market woman and man made sure that they followed the boat.
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The eyewitness said the boat was full of mostly women, with some children and men, adding that there was no road from Katcha to Kupa; rather they have to cross the river to the market.
According to him, at the time of the accident, there was no way victims could get help because it was dark and far from other riverine communities. Also, there was no other boat traveling at that period.
Mallam Musa Abukabar, a fisherman, who also spoke on the incident, said most of the traders normally traveled by boat from Kupa to Katcha market in Niger State. He said traders have to cross the river since there is no road or bridge to cross to the other side.
According to him, poor vision, especially during harmattan period could lead to such accident as poor visibility, makes it difficult for the boat driver to navigate effectively.
Mallam Abubakar also said some of the boats don’t have good head lights that could help them navigate when travelling at night, adding that the boat driver often go under influence of drugs.
The head of media department of NIWA, Suleman Makama, who confirmed the incident the next day, Friday, said that the traders were on their way to the market in Niger in a boat when it capsized.
“It’s true that there was a boat mishap on Thursday involving quite a number of women going to the market in Niger State. We are still investigating to ascertain the number of people involved, as well as what led to the accident,” he said.
He said that shortly after the incident, eight bodies were recovered while search and rescue operations continued to locate the remaining passengers.
On Saturday, the Head of Operations of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Justin Uwazuruonye, confirmed that 54 bodies have been recovered from the boat accident.
He said, “The figure of the recovered bodies as of Saturday, according to the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency, Red Cross and NEMA, is 54. They were recovered dead.”
He also noted the absence of a passenger manifest made it difficult to ascertain the exact number of passengers. “Besides, it was a night journey, and none of them had life jackets on,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo has sympathised with victims of the boat mishap.
In a press statement issued by Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Ismaila Isah, the governor expressed sadness over the boat accident, saying he was particularly concerned that most of the victims were women, petty traders and artisans who were involved in legitimate business activities to earn a living and contribute to the economy of the state.
The governor noted that the waterway linking Kogi and Niger states was becoming increasingly dangerous with frequent boat accidents and called on relevant authorities to ensure that safety measures are put in place to minimise risks associated with water transportation in the country.
Governor Ododo, who commended NIWA for its search and rescue operation, called for concerted efforts through inter-agency collaboration to prevent cases of waterway accidents and to enhance emergency response management.
The governor commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives and assured that the government will support those injured in their recuperation.
Similarly, the immediate past Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Prince Matthew Kolawole, has expressed sadness over the boat mishap, sending his heartfelt condolences to the government and the families affected. He described the incident as unfortunate, pointing out that it was one accident too many. In a statement signed by Kolawole, he expressed his deepest sympathy to the victims’ families over the sad incident, urging that they find strength in the face of the devastating loss.
Kolawole called for investigation to determine the immediate and remote causes of the accident, saying that the tragedy calls for concern about safety of waterway transportation in the region, just as he stressed the urgent need for preventive measures in the future.
Following the directive from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, for a comprehensive investigation into the boat mishap, a team from the Force Marine Unit was dispatched to Lokoja, the state capital, to begin inquiry.
CSP Chima Eze Ogarachi, Force Marine Officer at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, who led the team, confirmed their arrival in Lokoja on Monday.
He conveyed the condolences of the police to the families of the victims and emphasized the importance of adhering to safety protocols, particularly in light of this tragedy.
Ogarachi noted that the investigation was in response to the IGP’s directive and stressed the need for strict enforcement of existing laws, including the ban on night journeys. He emphasized that the police will no longer tolerate negligence, regarding the use of life jackets by both passengers and boat operators.
“The law against night traveling has been in place for a long time, but operators often ignore it. Only vessel boats are allowed to sail at night. We urge operators to observe the rules and ensure safety by using life jackets, whether traveling during the day or night,” Ogarachi stated.
Yakubu Zurkarnani, the unit head of engineering at NIWA Area Office in Lokoja, explained that a log of wood that fell into the water caused an obstruction leading to the mishap.
“Upon receiving the news, we immediately mobilised to the area. A fisherman reported that the boat operator couldn’t see the log of wood because the boat was traveling at night. The incident occurred around 4 am, which made it difficult for immediate rescue. It was the fishermen who discovered the victims later in the morning,” Zurkarnani explained.
Zurkarnani urged boat operators to strictly follow the ban on night journeys, stressing that the waterways are open for traveling only between 6 am and 6 pm.
Meanwhile, Comrade Abdullahi Bala Yusuf, chairman of the Marine Workers Union of Nigeria in Kogi State, called on the state government to address the issue of inadequate life jackets for boat operators.
Yusuf stated that despite multiple attempts to meet with the state Commissioner for Transportation, Atuluku Victor Levi, regarding the shortage of life jackets, no positive response has been received. He urged the state government to support the union and ensure boat operators have access to adequate safety equipment.
“Life jackets are not easily available in the open market, and we have been cooperating with NIWA and the Marine Police to promote safety on the waterways. The state government must step in to help us secure the necessary life jackets,” Yusuf added.
Just recently, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NIWA, Mr Bola Oyebanji, said 99 percent of the mishaps on the waterways were as a result of human errors and drugs.
Oyebanji disclosed this while addressing members of House of Representatives Committee on NIWA who were on oversight function to the headquarters of the Authority. He stated that the NIWA was committed to the safety of the Nigerians using water transportation.
He noted that research has shown that operators are committing avoidable mistakes, adding that human errors, drugs and disobedience to the rules and regulations were the major causes of boat mishaps that have occurred in past three years.
He stated that some of the operators lived on drugs to influence their activities to make them “high” and eventually make fatal mistakes.
Oyabanji added that some operators were repugnant to following rules and regulations, stressing that the wooden boats ferried over 150 to 200 passengers at once instead of obeying the limit on passengers.
He lamented that the transportation code requires revalidation because the operators have not been strictly following the code that was signed recently. He added that some were not providing the required life jackets for their passengers.
He also noted that the Regulation Code only provides N30,000 as penalty for offenders.
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