At least 32 individuals have died following a boat capsizing incident in Niger State, Nigeria. The boat, carrying approximately 100 passengers, including women and children, reportedly became overloaded and sank after colliding with a submerged tree stump in the River Niger on a Wednesday morning. Abdullahi Baba Ara, spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema), confirmed that over 50 people were rescued, while eight remain unaccounted for. Search operations for the missing individuals are ongoing.
In response to the incident, the government has instituted a team of “water marshals” to prevent boat overloading and to enforce safety regulations, such as the mandatory wearing of life jackets. Ara noted that the marshals may not have been present when the boat departed and stated that investigations into the accident are underway. Local district head Sa’adu Inuwa Muhammad reported being at the scene shortly after the incident and confirmed the recovery of 31 bodies from the river.
Boat accidents are unfortunately common in Nigeria, frequently attributed to overloading and insufficient safety measures. Last month, approximately 25 people were reported missing following a similar incident in Sokoto State, and in December, 54 fatalities were documented from a capsized boat carrying over 200 passengers. Despite government mandates requiring life jackets, enforcement remains an issue.
In recent months, initiatives have been launched to enhance safety on waterways. In February, a Special Committee on the Prevention of Boat Mishaps was established, and efforts to distribute 42,000 life jackets across 12 states were announced in May. Additionally, campaigns promoting “No Life Jacket, No Travel” and restricting night travel have been initiated in regions prone to accidents. Niger State, the largest in Nigeria by land mass, relies heavily on water transport for travel due to its speed and cost-effectiveness.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3dr903xeleo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss