A boat mishap in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State has led to the death of 35 people.
The latest incident, which is one in the series of many boat mishaps in the state and other parts of the country, has brought to fore how lack of enforcement of regulations and flagrant violations of rules by operators on the nation’s waterways have led to loss of lives, according to Daily Trust.
Niger State has in the last few years experienced many boat mishaps which claimed many lives. Most of these mishaps have been largely attributed to the traditional method being used by people living in riverine communities because of poverty and the failure of relevant authorities, particularly, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to regulate activities of passenger ferry and boat operators on the waterways.
Overloading of passengers and goods; night voyages by ferry operators; obstructions on waterways; violation of route usage; faulty boat and ferry engines; non-usage of life jackets and other life-saving appliances, amongst others are some of the factors responsible for the mishaps.
allAfrica.com