The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has confirmed that at least eight people were found dead morning following a boat accident near the Dambo-Ebuchi area of the River Niger.
Mr. Suleman Makama, Head of NIWA’s Media Department, confirmed the incident in Lokoja, Kogi State.
Makama stated that the boat accident involved over 200 passengers, including market women and farm workers, who were being transported from Lokoja in Kogi to the Katcha weekly market in Niger State.
He mentioned that the passengers, primarily market women and laborers, were heading to the market in Niger State when the boat overturned on the Dambo-Ebuchi stretch of the River Niger.
“There was indeed a boat accident on Friday morning involving several women en route to the market in Niger State.
We are still looking into the situation to determine the exact number of people involved and the cause of the incident,” Makama stated.
Recently, Mr. Bola Oyebanji, the Managing Director of NIWA, pointed out that human error, substance abuse, and disregard for rules and regulations are the primary causes of most boat accidents.
Oyebanji made this statement while responding to questions from the House of Representatives Committee on NIWA, who were conducting an oversight visit at its headquarters in Lokoja on Wednesday.
He also reiterated NIWA’s dedication to ensuring the safety of Nigerians using water transport.
“Research has shown that 99% of accidents on the waterways are due to human error, with operators making avoidable mistakes that shouldn’t result in disasters,” Oyebanji said.
He highlighted that some operators use drugs to alter their state of mind, which leads them to make serious, unforgivable mistakes.
He also pointed out that many operators disregard rules and regulations, citing the example of wooden boats carrying 150 to 200 passengers, far exceeding their capacity.
