National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) says it will adopt the use of local manpower to enforce operational guidelines on the nation’s water ways to prevent a reoccurrence of the boat mishap.
Managing Director of NIWA ,Dr, George Moghalu made the disclosure while speaking with journalists in Ilorin after leading a delegation to make an on-the-spot assessment of the situation in Patigi communities,in illorin Kwara State.
According to him preliminary investigation had revealed causes of the incident, noting that all indicted persons would be punished.
Dr. Moghalu lamented that not all vessel operators were licensed or registered, adding that the organization would continue registration of vessel operators to ensure safety of water ways.
He explained that preliminary investigations on the Kwara boat mishap revealed that the vessel was heavily overloaded carrying over 250 persons including luggages.
Dr Moghalu noted that the people were not wearing life jackets and they were travelling in the dead of the night at about 2:30am.
“It was a rainy night,the rain came with wind. Apart from the rain increasing the water level, the wind was moving and forcing the both left and right and then smashed the boat against a tree”.the NIWA managing Director said .
He also said that investigation had showed that 90 per cent of accident on water occur either in the night or very early in the morning, adding that, “Most of these vessels don’t have night navigational aids, making the movement a risky venture.
Dr. Moghalu maintained that the authority was determined to enforce standard operating procedure with a set of operational guidelines, using local enforcement agents, made up of youths, to enforce the guidelines .
Cov/Ali Muhammad Rabi’u
