The House of Representatives has urged the National Inland Waterways Authority to establish standards for boat construction, implement a licensing system for boat builders, and conduct annual inspections to ensure the seaworthiness of vessels in Nigeria.
This initiative aims to enhance safety and reliability in the country’s waterways, addressing growing concerns about maritime safety and regulation
The House also urged the National Inland Waterways Authority NIWA to step up enforcement and establish training centres across the country to educate boat operators.
It similarly urged the Nigerian Navy being charged of policing water mandate as Coastal Guard on Nigerian Waters, Coastal and International Waters, to set up a Command in River Niger flank of Niger state.
Another issue raised was for the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas in Nigeria, HYPERDEC and National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, to ensure procurement of Life jackets Floaters for all Water passengers and Enforcement condition on all Waterways Operators.
Also it urged the National Emergency Management Agency to give Humanitarian aide and Relief Materials to the bereaved families in Niger and Kwara States
These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of Urgent Public Importance on the “Boat Accident Involving 300 Persons In Gbajibo, Mokwa Local Government Area Of Niger State,” moved by Mr. Joshua Gana at plenary.
Leading the debate on the motion, Mr. Gana said that no fewer than eighty bodies have been recovered, 74 dead, six alive with 200 still missing in the boat accident that occurred on Tuesday, October 24th, 2024, on the Niger River of the Jebba Dam at Gbajibo community in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.
“Further notes that the boat which was conveying about three passengers going for a Maulud celebration from new Gbajibo in Kwara state to old Gbajibo in Niger state, consisting of youths from Kwara state, when it capsized at 8:30pm local time.
“Concerned that the majority of those on board were women and children, the wooden vessel, designed for a capacity of 100 passengers, overturned in rural Mokwa. This incident marks the second major maritime disaster in Niger State within 18 months, following an earlier accident that resulted in over 100 fatalities.
“Aware that through the combined efforts of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), the Niger State Ministry of Transport, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), the Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee, as well as brave divers and community volunteers, a total of 16 bodies were recovered on Wednesday.
“Informed that the boat’s structural failure was linked to multiple violations, including overloading, the use of a substandard wooden vessel lacking navigational aids, the absence of safety vests, and unauthorized night sailing.
Worried that recent boat disasters in Nigeria frequently highlight regulatory shortcomings, with incidents often attributed to overloading and inadequate vessel maintenance.
“Further concerned that the families of those still missing or unrecovered are deeply traumatized by this tragic loss,” the motion stated
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Benjamin Kalu mandated the Committees on Inland Waterways and Legislative Compliance to ensure implementation of the resolutions.
The House observed a minute of silence in honour of those that lost their lives in the boat accident.