99 die in Kebbi, Niger, Lagos boat mishaps

No fewer than 99 persons died in six boat mishaps that occurred in Kebbi, Niger and Lagos states between April and September, according to a survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The survey was conducted in Kebbi, Niger and Lagos states.
Two boat mishaps each were recorded on River Niger, Niger and Lagos state, within the period.
The survey also revealed that 47 people were rescued, while some unspecified number of persons got missing.
The worst of the mishaps was recorded in Kebbi on September 14 when 53 persons, who were mostly traders, lost their lives on River Niger.
It was gathered that the traders were among 100 persons going to Poll market in Bagudo local government area when the incident occurred.
However, 47 of the victims were lucky as they were rescued alive by divers.
The Chairman of the Bagudo local government area, Muhammad Zagga, who confirmed the incident, said no fewer than 500 divers were deployed to rescue the victims.
Also in Kebbi, seven persons had on April 15 died when the overloaded boat in which they were traveling on River Niger hit a tree trunk, forcing it to capsize.
The passengers believed to be about 150 were returning from Malali market in Ngaski local government area of the state.
In Niger, 30 persons died in two boat mishaps recorded in the state within the period.
The mishaps occurred on River Niger which passes through Borgu local government area and River Kaduna which passes through Shiroro local government area.
Ibrahim Inga, the Director-General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed this to NAN.
In Lagos state, nine persons died in two boat mishaps recorded on the lagoon between April and September.
The Lagos Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mua’zu Sambo, who confirmed this to NAN, said one person got missing in one of the incidents.
Sambo described the figures so far, as an improvement when compared with 2016 when 26 deaths were recorded in five boat mishaps.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) said the only way accidents could be reduced on Waterways was for users to comply strictly with safety guidelines from the organisation.
Its Public Affairs Manager, Tayo Fadile, said users should stop sailing on the Waterways at night, saying that the law only permitted sailing between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Fadile advised operators not to take in passengers beyond the capacity of the boat.