Two passengers were confirmed dead by medical doctors at a Lagos hospital on Wednesday when the boat in which they were traveling alongside 15 other persons capsized a few moments after departing the Ipakodo ferry terminal in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
The National Inland Waterways Authority NIWA confirmed that the incident happened at about 7.45am involving the boat, named “R & N 2” suddenly capsized due to mechanical fault less than 200 meters from the terminal and submerged immediately after departing the jetty enroute Victoria Island.
NIWA’s Lagos Area Manager, Engr Sarat Braimah in an electronic statement noted that ‘’A boat accident was recorded in the early hours of today, 6th of July, 2022 at about 7:50am at the Lagos State Ferry Terminal, Ipakodo Ikorodu with 17 (Seventeen) passengers onboard. The accident happened few seconds after the boat left the jetty.’’
‘’A rescue team involving NIWA marshals, officials of Lagos state government and boat operators got to the scene of the incident almost immediately and all the passengers were rescued, though 2 (Two) passengers were unconscious as at the time of rescue and were immediately rushed to the nearest hospital.’’
The document noted that ‘’unfortunately, information reaching us as at the time of this report indicates that the unconscious passengers have been confirmed dead.
The boat involved is a privately owned commercial boat named “R & N 2”.
