Nze Mike
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has expressed concern over the boat mishap at Umumu Anam, Anambra West Local Governnent Area (LGA), which claimed
the lives of 8 persons in Anambra state last week.
The General Manager (GM Corporate Affairs, (NIWA), Jibril Darda’u, in a statement yesterday said 38 others were rescued immediately, while reports confirmed that about 50 passengers were on board the wooden boat.
The statement signed by Darda’u and made available to pressmen in Onitsha, further said that the Authority is aware that the sad incident involved a passenger boat travelling from Idah in Kogi state to Onitsha in Anambra state.
According to him, reports indicated that the wooden engine boat rammed into a snag on the water channel and capsized with about 50 passengers.
Darda’u said, upon the receipt of the sad report, relevant personnel from the marine department were deployed for rescue, recovery, and proper investigation.
“From the records, 8 persons were confirmed dead at the scene, while 38 others were rescued immediately.
“The recovery efforts are ongoing and
the Authority will provide detailed information to the public as soon as the field officers report back to the headquarters.
“The Authority sincerely commiserates with the friends and families of the deceased and prayed to God to rest their souls.
“In the meantime, we want to reassure the general public that NIWA is doing everything possible to ensure safer inland waterways for the movement of people and goods across our inland waterways”, he noted
