A tragic boat accident on the River Niger has left several people dead and many others missing.
The boat, carrying over 200 passengers, capsized on its way from Kogi State to the Katcha weekly market in Niger State. Most of the passengers were market women and farm laborers.
The National Inland Waterways Authority onfirmed the incident, which occurred along the Dambo-Ebuchi section of the river. Suleman Makama, NIWA’s Head of Media, said, “It’s true there was a boat mishap involving a significant number of women heading to the market. We are still investigating to determine the exact number of people involved and the cause of the accident.”
As of now, eight bodies have been recovered, while search-and-rescue operations are ongoing. Makama added that NIWA would release an official statement once more details are confirmed.
The Managing Director of NIWA, Bola Oyebanji, highlighted the frequent causes of such accidents. He said, “Over 99% of mishaps on our waterways result from human error. Research shows operators are making avoidable mistakes, often with tragic consequences.”
Oyebanji also blamed drug use, overloading, and non-compliance with safety protocols for many accidents. He emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of the recently signed transportation code, which includes requirements like providing life jackets for passengers.
