Five persons are still missing while 20 others were rescued from the boats’ mishap which occurred in Lagos, Monday evening.
The incident occurred when two commercial boats collided at Imore town, a riverine community in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
At least, 25 persons were said to have been involved in the incident.
It was learnt that one of the boats left Ojo waterside and was heading to Imore, when it ran into another that was coming from the opposite direction.
Sources said that the incident occurred as a result of a heavy downpour. It was learnt that one of the boats was conveying 15 passengers and the other carrying 10 passengers. Daily Trust also gathered that school children were involved in the incident.
The incident is coming just a few days after a boat mishap killed over 30 people.
Boat mishaps have become a recurring decimal on Nigeria’s waterways, with Lagos and Niger leading in the number of waterway accidents.
The Monday evening incident in Lagos was the latest in the series that have been witnessed in the state with authorities providing different accounts of the incident.
Five bodies unaccounted for – LASWA The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) stated that five persons have not been accounted for in the boat collision.
The General Manager of LASWA, Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, in a statement said the accident involved two vessels: “Only God 13” and a wooden boat.
“At approximately 7.00 p.m., “Only God 13” traveling from Ebute Ero to Badagry with 15 passengers, collided with a wooden boat carrying 10 passengers from Alakija to Imore.
“Fortunately, all 15 passengers on board “Only God 13” were rescued safely and are waiting at the jetty to collect their goods.
“However, five passengers from the wooden boat sustained injuries and are receiving medical attention.
Regrettably, five other individuals remain unaccounted for, and search and rescue efforts are ongoing,” he said. Emmanuel noted that in response, officials of LASWA and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) convened an emergency meeting with Imore community chiefs and the state marine officer.
The meeting, the LASWA general manager said, was to coordinate rescue operations and support affected families.
“LASWA, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, NIWA, marine police and local operators are working tirelessly to locate the missing individuals and provide assistance to those affected,” he said.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the incident, said it was reported at Ilashe Police Station around 7pm.
He, however, said 11 persons were rescued with varying degrees of injuries. He added that the injured were rushed to the hospital.
“About 11 persons were rescued by a combined team of policemen from the marine unit of the force. Those who sustained injuries were rushed to the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Navy Town, Ojo, for treatment,” he stated.
Another source told our correspondent that the passengers drowned with their goods while attributing the cause of the incident to overloading and night travel.
It was learnt that the passengers that were injured were rushed to Naval Hospital, Navy Town, Alakija, for medical attention while search and rescue operation is being intensified for the missing persons. When contacted, spokesperson of the state emergency management agency (LASEMA), Nosa Okunbor, said investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Expert speaks
A transportation expert, Professor Bamidele Badejo, blamed the recurring accidents on the waterways on the involvement of non-professionals in the transportation business.
He stated that just like other modes of transportation, safety is key in waterway transportation. He lamented that most of the players in waterway transportation are unqualified.
“In water transportation, it is free entry and free exit. That you come from a riverine area does not qualify you to be a driver.
“In terms of professionalism, that is the person maneuvering the vessel, there is no certification to show competence and expertise. People who are using it are only making use of route knowledge.
“There is need to do periodic training, stakeholders’ meetings with all the people in the inland waterways business. Beyond revenue generation, our water transportation system is in tatters,” he added.
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