Lagos boat accident claims five lives
A boat accident that happened at about 8:00pm on Friday along Ikorodu Channel of Lagos Waterways has claimed five lives. The boat was travelling feom Ebute-Ero to Ikorodu but capsized at Owode
Ibeshe precisely
This update was given by the Lagos State Waterways Authority, (LASWA) on Saturday afternoon as four deaths had already been reported.
LASWA warned ferry operators and passengers to obey the rules guiding the water travel especially the ‘No Night travelling’ one.
According to LASWA, the accident could have been avoided as the Ferry was transporting 21 passengers with a 20-person capacity and was doing so illegally as they were not supposed to travel at night.
Unfortunately, the ferry capsized on the waterway as it ran into an unforseen object on the waterways.
The Rescue team swung into action as soon as they were alweted and 16 passengers were rescued while five died and one in critical condition.
Dr Frederick Oladeinde, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, and Mr Damilola Emmanuel, the General Manager LASWA, confirmed the sad Lagos boat accident on Saturday morning.
The Commissioner for Transportation while sending his condolences to the affected families assured them thatbthe law will run its cause as the incident was under investigation and violators of the law will be brough to book.
Oladeinde told Ferry Operators to desist from breaking the safety guidelines to avoid these kinds of accidents in the future, he added that if the rule of ‘no night travelling on the waterways from 6.00pm’ had been strictly obeyed, the accident could have been avoided.
General Manager LASWA, Mr Damilola Emmanuel repeated that henceforth any operator who violates any of safety guidelines especially the ‘no night travelling’ rule, would be arrested by the Marine Police and the boat, confiscated.
He advised travellers to avoid late night journeys on the waterways. Offending passengers will be punished according to the law.
