Niger Boat Mishap : Labour Party Demands Robust Legislation, Stricter Regulation of Waterways

Concerned by increasing loss of lives to incessant boat accidents across states, the Interim National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, has called for more robust legislation and stricter regulations of the country`s inland waterways.

Her call followed the recent boat mishap on Tuesday on the Kainji River in Niger State where the death toll which was earlier pegged at 29, has risen to 60.

In a statement on Thursday, the Labour Party interim national chairman said the “recurrent boat mishaps in Nigeria – particularly in Niger State, where such tragedies have become very frequent – demand immediate and decisive action.”

Usman said “It is with a heavy heart that I received the tragic news of the recent boat mishap in Niger State, where initial reports put the death toll at about 29, but has now, regrettably, risen to nearly 60 lives lost. This is one tragedy too many, and the frequency with which we record such mishaps on our inland waterways should be a matter of grave concern to all Nigerians.

“According to the information at my disposal, the incident occurred at the Malale riverfront in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State. The ill-fated boat, carrying about 90 passengers, departed Tugan Sule in Shagunu Ward, Borgu LGA, enroute to Dugga for a condolence visit when the tragedy struck. It is deeply unfortunate and heart-wrenching that people on a journey to sympathize with others became victims of a calamity themselves.

“I, therefore, use this moment to call on the relevant authorities to urgently consider more robust legislation and stricter regulation of our inland waterways. The recurrent boat mishaps in Nigeria – particularly in Niger State, where such tragedies have become very frequent – demand immediate and decisive action.

“On behalf of the entire Labour Party family, I extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the government and people of Niger State, and indeed all Nigerians, on this national tragedy.”

Report had it that the boat carrying 90 passengers from Tugan Sule in Shagunu Ward of Borgu LGA to Dugga for a condolence visit, capsized around Gausawa community in Malale Ward of Borgu LGA.

The incident according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) was attributed to overloading and a collision with a tree stump.