The death toll from the boat accident which occurred in Gausawa community, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State has risen to 60, a leader in the community has said.
Reuters reports that the chairman of Borgu LGA, Abdullahi Baba Ara said dozens out of over 100 people who were on board the boat have also been rescued.
The boat was said to have capsized on Tuesday after it hit a tree stump which was submerged in the river, leaving several people, including women and children dead.
“The death toll of the boat incident has risen to 60, 10 people have been found in serious condition and many are still being sought,” Ara stated.
Reacting to the report of the mishap, Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president of Nigeria said the accident is a gentle reminder of the need for the government to improve the safety of the nation’s waterways.
Atiku in a statement shared on his social media account described boat travel as an indispensable means of transportation for some Nigerians.
He said this has made it important that the safety of the transportation infrastructure is guaranteed with the right protocols and measures put in place.
He said, “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.”
Also condoling with the families and loved ones of the victims, Atiku said the incident serves as a wake-up call for Nigerian authorities to prioritise investment in water transportation safety infrastructure, monitoring, and public awareness so that such heartbreaking occurrences become a thing of the past.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who may have lost loved ones. My deepest condolences to the people and government of Niger State and the local authorities,” he added.