Tragedy Strikes In Kogi As Boat Carrying 200 People Capsizes, Eight Bodies Recovered

Tragedy Strikes In Kogi As Boat Carrying 200 People Capsizes, Eight Bodies RecoveredThe National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has confirmed a tragic boat accident involving more than 200 market women from Kogi State. The incident occurred on Thursday when the boat, which was en route to a market in Niger State, capsized along the Dambo-Ebuchi section of the River Niger.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Suleman Makama, Head of NIWA’s Media Department, verified the accident on Friday, revealing that the boat was carrying over 200 passengers, including market women and farm laborers, heading to the Katcha weekly market in Niger State. While the exact number of casualties remains unknown, eyewitnesses reported that eight bodies have already been recovered, and search and rescue operations are underway to locate the remaining passengers.

Makama stated, “It’s true that there was a boat mishap involving several women heading to the market in Niger State. We are still investigating to determine the number of people involved and the cause of the accident.”

The boat involved in the tragedy was owned by Musa Dangana. Makama also mentioned that he is awaiting approval from NIWA management before issuing a detailed official statement on the incident. When asked about the timeline for this statement, he noted, “I can’t provide a specific time frame but will share the details as soon as possible.”

PUNCH News recalls that the Managing Director of NIWA, Mr. Bola Oyebanji, had previously highlighted human error, drug abuse, and non-compliance with safety regulations as major contributors to boat accidents in Nigeria. During an oversight visit by the House of Representatives Committee on NIWA, Oyebanji explained that “ninety-nine percent of mishaps on the waterways are caused by human errors.” He added that some boat operators engage in drug use, impairing their judgment and leading to fatal accidents.

Oyebanji also stressed the importance of adhering to safety regulations, particularly the new transportation code. He noted that it is unacceptable for wooden boats to carry over 150 to 200 passengers, far exceeding their designed capacity, and many operators fail to provide life jackets for their passengers.

NIWA has pledged to continue its efforts to improve safety on the nation’s waterways, calling for stricter enforcement of safety measures to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.

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