Death toll in Lagos boat mishap jumps to 7
*NIWA blames incident on violation of regulation
Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) says the seventh and last body from Friday’s night boat mishap near Ikorodu has been found.
LASWA’s General Manager, Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, made the confirmation on Sunday in Lagos.
“The last body was found through the joint efforts of LASWA, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and local boat operators,” he said.
The 20-capacity passenger boat with the name ‘Lalek Marine’ reportedly left Ebute Ero Jetty at 8.00.pm on Friday and did not arrive at its destination at Ikorodu Terminal.
The boat was said to have run into an object on the waterways and capsized. The accident happened at Owode/Ibeshe near Ikorodu at 8.30pm on Friday.
As at Saturday evening, only six bodies of the casualties had been found, while 14 out of the 21 passengers on the ill-fated boat were rescued.
Reacting to the accident, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) blamed the mishap on the failure of operators to adhere to the 6 pm sailing schedule guiding water transportation services in Lagos State.
NIWA’s Lagos Area Manager, Sarat Braimah, disclosed this in a statement in Lagos on Sunday. She said apart from violating the extant time of operation schedule slated for 6 pm, the boat operator also overloaded the vessel.
According to her, the boat operator acted against COVID-19 protocols which allow only 60 per cent carrying capacity for all types of boats in order to encourage social distancing.
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The area manager further explained that the Ebute Ero Jetty, the departure point of the ill-fated boat would henceforth, be monitored by NIWA police, pending the conclusion of investigation into the incident.
She said NIWA has tracked down the owner of the boat to explain how the unfortunate incident happened and if need arises the collaborators would also be invited for questioning.
“The Managing Director of NIWA, Dr. George Moghalu, has directed that the jetty be monitored to avoid recurrence of the incident and to enable NIWA to conduct full investigation into this very sad but avoidable incident,” she said.
