HYPADEC, NIWA partner to curb boat mishaps

The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPADEC) in collaboration with National Inland Water Way (NIWA) have resolved to clear tree stubs and other obstacles responsible for boat mishaps along riverine areas across the country.

Kogi representative at HYPADEC, Alhaji Isah Ozi Salami, disclosed this at the Government House Lokoja during a stakeholders/town hall meeting involving riverine councils of Bassa, Ibaji, Lokoja, Kogi/Koton-Karfe and Ofu to discuss issues of boat mishaps.

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He noted that the clearing of trees and rocks became imperative to avert boat mishaps that have claimed many lives along riverine areas in Kogi, Kwara, Niger and Kebbi, saying the recent boat mishaps at Yauri in Kebbi State where over 200 people lost their lives calls for concern.

Ozi Salami urged boat users to always wear safety jackets as a precautionary measure to avoid unnecessary death on waterways.

“What we want to do now is to see how we can remove some of the shrubs and trees that grow along the riverine beds so that we can avoid future boat mishaps because it is better to prevent such incident from happening,” he said.