Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has expressed sorrow over the deaths of at least 29 people in a boat mishap in Niger State.
The tragedy happened on Monday in Gausawa community, Malale Ward, Borgu Local Government Area, when a wooden boat carrying about 90 passengers capsized after hitting a tree stump. Women and children were among the victims.
Atiku, in a condolence message posted on X on Thursday, described the accident as “a painful reminder of the urgent need to strengthen safety in our waterways.”
He noted, “Reports indicate that the boat, which was carrying about 90 passengers including women and children, collided with a tree stump, with overloading cited as a possible cause of the mishap. This unfortunate incident highlights the recurring risks associated with water transportation in our riverine communities.”
The former Vice-President, who contested in the 2023 elections under the Peoples Democratic Party, stressed that boat transport had become necessary for many Nigerians in riverine states but continued to remain unsafe due to weak regulation.
“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 added.
He extended his condolences to the families of the victims, the Gausawa community, and the Niger State government. “My heartfelt condolences go to the families of the victims, the Gausawa community, and the government and people of Niger State. May the Almighty grant comfort to the bereaved and eternal rest to those who lost their lives,” he said.
Boat accidents remain common in Nigeria due to overcrowding, lack of safety gear, poor monitoring, and night travel. In September 2023, 26 people died in Mokwa Local Government of Niger State after an overloaded boat sank. Similar accidents have also been recorded in Kebbi, Kwara, Anambra, and Lagos.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency said rescue efforts were still ongoing in Gausawa, with some passengers yet to be found. Local divers and volunteers have joined the operation.
