NIWA regrets as 8 passengers die in Anambra boat mishap
…Says recovery efforts ongoing
Maureen Aguta
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has lamented over the reported boat mishap at Umumu Anam, Anambra West LGA, Anambra State between Thursday the 4th and Friday the 5th of January, 2024 at about 7am.
The Authority in a statement by the General Manager Corporate Communication, Jibril Dardua, said the sad incident involved a passenger boat travelling from Idah in Kogi State to Onitsha in Anambra State.
It disclosed upon the receipt of the sad report, relevant personnel from the marine department were deployed for rescue, recovery, and proper investigation.
According to Dardua preliminary reports indicated that the wooden engine boat rammed into a snag on the water channel and capsized with about 50 passengers on board. From the records, eight persons were confirmed dead at the scene, while 38 others were rescued immediately.
“The recovery efforts are ongoing and the Authority will provide detailed information to the public as soon as the field officers report back to the headquarters.
“The Authority sincerely commiserates with the friends and families of the deceased and prayed to God to rest their souls,” he said.
He further assured the general public that NIWA is doing everything possible to ensure safer inland waterways for the movement of people and goods across our inland waterways.