The Management of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has confirmed that three passengers died, while 17 others were rescued in a recent boat mishap that occurred at Bayeku in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
NIWA General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mr Tayo Fadile, confirmed this in a statement issued yesterday in Lokoja.
The statement said that NIWA was reliably informed by its Lagos Area Office that a 20-passenger boat owned by Mr. Kasali, a member of Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transport of Nigeria (ATBOANTON) took off in the evening from Okeranla in Ajah heading to Bayeku in Ikorodu ran into a heap of a dredged sand and capsized.
“The Area Office when contacted, immediately deployed the water Ambulance boat with the search and rescue team to the scene of the mishap and the team were able to rescue 17 seventeen passengers alive and 3 dead bodies.
“We will like to use this medium to appeal to the general public especially rivers users to strictly adhere to NIWA safety guidelines, especially for boat operators to stop traveling in the evening after 6pm.
NIWA, while commiserating with the family of the victims and the Lagos State Government, urged all boat operators to do the right thing and reduce the incessant boat mishaps on the waterways.
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