Yet another boat tragedy

ON Saturday, October 28, a devastating incident unfolded in Mayo Ranewo community along the banks of River Benue in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State when a boat carrying 104 passengers capsized. The boat, which was reported to have capsized midway through the Benue River, was returning from a fish market in the Mayoreneyo community of the Ardo-Kola Local Government Area of the state. Of the 104 passengers aboard the ill-fated vessel, only 14 individuals were successfully rescued in the immediate aftermath of the incident, while 17 persons were immediately confirmed dead. Following the incident, the Taraba State Commissioner for Special Duties and Social Development, Saviour Noku, said at least 20 bodies had been recovered from the accident.  Noku spoke during a condolence visit to families of victims of the unfortunate incident in the Binneri community of the Karim Lamido Local Government Area of the state.

On his part, the deputy governor of the state, Alhaji Aminu Alkali, while commiserating with the families of the victims and the people of the community, expressed sadness over the incident and announced the government’s determination to forestall a recurrence. He said: “This sad development is unacceptable.  This incident, we were told, was caused by barricades on the waterways by fishermen. Government has, therefore, banned all night journeys on the waterways, and all the barricades on the waterways must be cleared within seven days. In addition, all passengers must put on life jackets before boarding boats in the state. And henceforth, the manifest of passengers onboard boats must be taken before setting out.”

In October, a  boat carrying 50 people capsized in the Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State, leaving 40 of them unaccounted for. The survivors were rescued  by local divers. The boat, which reportedly had the accident around noon while ferrying passengers to the Yauri weekly market, was coming from Kasabo in Agura Local Government of Niger State. Earlier, in June, 108 lives were lost at Egbu village in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State as guests returning from a wedding ceremony perished in a boat accident. The guests, who were from neighbouring villages, had reportedly arrived the venue on motorbikes but resorted to a boat ride after the road leading into the village was cut off by heavy rain. As we noted in a previous editorial, riverside states in the country have been witnessing a resurgence of boat accidents this rainy season. States like Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Adamawa, Kebbi, Sokoto and Kano have witnessed a high rate of boat accidents blamed on the lack of life jackets and overloading, among other infractions.

It is indeed distressing that lives keep getting lost due to the same factors that have continued to hobble water transport in the country. In September, worried by the incidence of boat tragedies, President Bola Tinubu had called for a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the recurring boat accidents across the country. Declaring that government agencies would be held accountable for any regulatory or safety lapses, and that  comprehensive safety measures and enforcement must be carried out on boating activities in the country, the president directed various government agencies, including law enforcement, maritime safety and transportation safety authorities to collaborate in identifying the causes of these unfortunate and preventable disasters. Since then, however, things have only got worse. Indeed, sad as it may sound, there is nothing to suggest that yet another tragedy may not unfold very soon, in large part because the authorities only issue strongly-worded statements after every tragedy, mouthing reforms that are never implemented, and giving the impression that they are only being facetious.

Apparently, the quality of those in charge of water transport in the country is suspect: lives keep being wasted as if by routine. The authorities may huff and puff, but boats are constantly being overloaded, and they operate at odd hours without safety precautions, including life jackets. The regulatory agencies are complacent, purveying nothing but sound and fury that signify nothing. Tragedy stalks water transport as the government continues to be derelict in its regulatory oversight responsibility, shying away from guidelines and their enforcement. What sense does it make for the government to always come out to bemoan the loss of lives after each and every  boat disaster, instead of preventing them through the application of the law? For instance, what is so difficult in getting the operators of boats to carry a specified number of passengers and to provide life jackets to take care of accidents and emergencies? This is what is expected of the government in a serious society that sets great store by the life of citizens.

We urge the government  to set about having and enforcing appropriate regulations that will help to prevent avoidable deaths on the waterways. Nigerians have the right to demand responsibility from those who govern them.

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