There is need to strengthen water transport safety – Atiku Abubakar

Omeiza Bilal

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the Niger boat accident that claimed the lives of 29 passengers as a painful reminder of the urgent need to strengthen safety in our waterways.

A boat accident in Gausawa community, Malale Ward of Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State, was reportedly to have claimed 29 passengers.

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.

According to the PDP presidential flagbearer in the 2023 general elections, the incident once again highlights the recurring risks associated with water transportation across the country’s riverine communities.

“Boat travel has become an indispensable means of transportation for many Nigerians. It is, therefore, crucial that the right infrastructure and safety protocols are put in place. 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.

“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.

“This incident must serve as a wake-up call to authorities to prioritize investment in water transportation safety infrastructure, monitoring, and public awareness so that such heartbreaking occurrences become a thing of the past,” Atiku said.