NIWA Blames Boat Operators for Lagos Boat Mishap

ABIOLA Seun

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has blamed the operator of a 20-passenger boat operated by Eda Olaropin/Baiyeku Association heading to Baiyeku in Ikorodu from Okeranla in Ajah for the boat mishap that claimed three lives.

It was learnt that the Boat ran into a submerged object midstream within Okeranla axis.

17 passengers were rescued alive while 3 (all of whom were women) were confirmed dead.

The boat owner is Mr Kasali commander of Baiyeku.

In a statement by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs of NIWA, Tayo Fadile and Head of Marine, Lagos Office, Engineer Sarat Braimah said immediately the authority was informed, it deployed it’s water ambulance.

The statement read, “We wish to commiserate with the Government and people of Lagos State on the recent boat mishap in Baiyeku in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

However, we were reliably informed by NIWA Lagos Area Office that a 20 passenger boat owned by Mr Kasali Commander, 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 Baiyeku 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 seventeen 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.