Following the recent boat mishap that occurred at Bayeku in the Ikorodu area of Lagos leading to the loss of three persons, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has called on the general public especially water transport users to strictly adhere to its safety guidelines, especially for boat operators to stop traveling in the evening after 6pm.
The General Manager Public Affairs NIWA, Mr. Tayo Fadile who made the call in a press release in Lokoja also assured that NIWA would continue to encourage boat operators to do the right thing and reduce the incessant boat mishap on the nation’s waterways by adhering to safety regulations as stipulated by the agency.
Fadile said,” The Management of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) wish to commiserate with the Government and people of Lagos State on the recent boat mishap in Bayeku in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
“However, we were reliably informed by NIWA Lagos Area Office that a 20 passenger boat owned by Mr. Kasali, a member of (ATBOANTON) Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transport of Nigeria took off in the evening from Okeranla in Ajah heading to Bayeku in Ikorodu ran into a heap of a dredged sand and capsized.
“The Area Office when contacted, immediately deployed the water Ambulance boat with the search and rescue team to the scene of the mishap and the team were able to rescue 17 passengers alive and 3 dead bodies.
“We will like to use this medium to appeal to the general public especially rivers users to strictly adhere to NIWA safety guidelines, especially for boat operators to stop traveling in the evening after 6pm.
“NIWA will continue to encourage our boat operators to do the right thing and reduce the incessant boat mishap on our waterways by adhering to safety regulations as stipulated by NIWA”.
Photo: NIWA MD, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora.
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