Frequent Boat Mishap: Atiku Urges Investment, Safety On Nation’s Waterways
By Sunday Etuka, Abuja
Deaths resulting from boat accidents in Niger State has raised serious concerns in the country, with the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar calling for an end to the menace.
Atiku was reacting to the tragic loss of lives in the boat accident which reportedly claimed about 32 passengers in Gausawa community, Malale Ward of Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on Wednesday.
The overloaded boat was said to have been carrying 100 passengers including women and children, when it struck a submerged tree stump on the River Niger.
The former VP said the incident is a painful reminder of the urgent need to strengthen safety in the nation’s waterways.
“This unfortunate incident highlights the recurring risks associated with water transportation in our riverine communities,” he added.
While stating that Boat travel has become an indispensable means of transportation for many Nigerians, Atiku said there was the need to put in place the right infrastructure and safety protocols.
“Overloading must be discouraged, capacities strictly adhered to, and the provision of life jackets made compulsory. The cost of safety is far cheaper than the cost of lives cut short in preventable tragedies,” he noted.
According to him, the incident must serve as a wake-up call to authorities to prioritize investment in water transportation, safety infrastructure, monitoring, and public awareness so that such heartbreaking occurrences become a thing of the past.
While extending his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the Gausawa community, and the government and people of Niger State, the former VP prayed for the souls of the departed.
