……. As FG Sets to Receive 5 New Boats for Sokoto State
The Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State was recently thrown into muddle when a boat capsized leaving many missing.
Official statements and eyewitness accounts confirmed many passengers were thrown into the water when the boat capsized and search and rescue operations are ongoing. Although, accurate number of passengers involved was not known as at the time of filing this report, as there was no manifest.
Confirming the tragedy on Friday, the Special Adviser on Emergency Management to Governor Ahmed Aliyu, Hon. Aminu Liman Bodinga said the mishap occurred on Thursday and that officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) had been dispatched for search and rescue operations.
Bodinga, also explained that SEMA is working with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to rescue survivors and recover bodies.
“The boat was carrying several passengers when it capsized, throwing everyone into the river,” he said.
Although, he could not give exact casualty figures, but residents fear most of the passengers may not have survived, rescue efforts were still ongoing.
The recent boat mishap occurred less than a month when similar boat accidents were officially reported in some parts of the state where it claimed lives and more than 20 people missing.
Boat accidents have become a recurring nightmare in the state, with experts linking it to poor monitoring and enforcement, poor safety regulations, and the use of non-motorized boats.
Residents have continued to call on the authorities to provide safer transportation alternatives, enforce safety standards, and supply adequate life-saving equipment to prevent further loss of lives.
The state government, in collaboration with federal agencies, is expected to issue a formal statement after rescue operations are concluded. For now, the mood in Shagari and nearby communities remains tense as families await updates on missing loved ones.
This is coming when the Federal Government is set to receive five new boats, including one aluminium and one iron boat for Sokoto State, in the coming months. This commitment follows a previous boat mishap and is part of the government’s broader effort to improve safety and rescue operations on Nigerian waterways.
Five new boats are being received by the Federal Government. (One aluminium and one iron boat are designated for deployment to Sokoto State).These boats will help improve safety and rescue capabilities on the state’s waterways.
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to improving safety and rescue operations across Nigeria’s waterways.
Additional
Immediate steps are also being taken to clear obstructing water hyacinth from the waterways and to distribute life jackets to riverine communities as confirmed by the
Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
