Night sailing, overloading cause of Kwara boat mishap — NIWA

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) on Wednesday blamed the recent boat mishap that claimed over 100 lives in Kwara to illegal sailing at night and overloading of the wooden boat.

In a statement signed by NIWA General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Jibril Darda’u, the Authority said that the ill-fated boat took off by 2:30am, a move that flouts the agency’s directive against night movement on inland waterways.

According to the statement, “The Management of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) is deeply saddened by the Boat mishap that occurred on 12th June, 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 that have 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 been carrying more than 200 passengers at once without using life jackets and sailing in the night was certainly gross-overloading and misconduct.

“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 flaunting our safety guidelines and killing innocent commuters.”

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