Opinion
Boat Mishaps And Loss Of Lives
One of the recurring problems of Nigeria is boat mishap. Yearly cases of boat mishap are reported in the country without any sign of cessation. This is very disturbing to the authorities and citizens of this country. Boat drivers should always be careful whenever they are driving innocent seafarers. Meanwhile, fifty people including school pupils are reported dead in a boat mishap which occurred in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State. According to reports the passengers drowned when two passenger canoes in which they were travelling capsized in the Nano River, Bukuro village. Altogether eighty passengers were travelling in the canoes. The event happened on November 1, 2009
The capsized canoes were ferrying the people from neighbouring Yarawodo village in Benin Republic to Bukuro after a business trip. It was gathered that the people of Banlten, a border town in Kwara State and Yaworodo town in Benin Republic share a lot in common with many crossing from Kwara’s border to Yarawodo on daily basis for schooling and business activities. Speaking in this connection, the Emir of Guanara in the Local Government Area, A1haji Sabi Idris, described the incident as the worst in the history of the area. He sympathized with the families of the victims. He passionate1y appealed to the federal government to pay more attention to the development of border towns. The Emir pointed out that his district had been described as the most neglected border town adding that urgent attention should be given to the area. He stressed that the accident would have been avoided if the school in Bukuro was adequately equipped.
Also speaking, the village head of Bukuro, Mallam Isa Aliyu, lamented that his area with a population of 20,000 could only boast
of three teachers in its only primary school. He said the unfortunate incident was borne out of the determination of parents to get their children and wards educated thereby necessitating the enrolment of the pupils in schools in Benin Republic. About fifty-five school pupils were on board the ill-fated canoes and most of those who died were school pupils. In fact, this is very unfortunate. We appeal to the authorities in the country to look into the situation in Kwara State and do something to improve it. More schools should be built in those areas so that children of school age could gain easy access to education in their own country instead of taking the risk of travelling daily in canoes to Benin Republic for schooling.
The federal and Kwara State governments should intervene and provide school for these children. Meanwhile, we sympathize with the families of those who lost their lives in the accident. As already noted boat drivers and canoe paddlers should be careful whenever they are carrying innocent passengers in their boats and canoes.
Similarly, there was a boat accident at the Bonny sea on October 31, 2009. According to reports, the mishap occurred when the Liquefied Natural Gas Company boats travelling from Port Harcourt to Bonny caused waves that rocked and capsized a passenger outboard engine boat travelling from Bonny to Port Harcourt. Properties worth thousands of naira were lost including the outboard engine boat. Passengers spoken to blamed the LNG company boats for causing the accident. However, the timely arrival of rescue teams from Bonny saved many lives. Again boat drivers should take care while driving at sea. If care is taken many boat accidents would be avoided and innocent lives saved.
Not long ago, it was a tragedy for the people of Kula in the Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State when eleven out of twenty passengers travelling in a passenger boat from Abonnema to Kula lost their lives when the boat in which they were travelling capsized. The victims were reported to be travelling to Kula to attend a funeral when the incident happened. The boat capsized when it ran into an object due to poor visibility because it was undertaking a night journey.
In any case, we cannot be losing innocent lives on our sea routes because of the carelessness of some boat drivers. If drivers are careful while driving, boat accidents would be minimal and innocent lives would be saved. Nonetheless, boats accidents are in most cases caused. Some boat drivers cause boat accidents because of their recklessness and careless driving. Some boat drivers go on the steering after smoking Indian hemp and taking alcoholic drinks. Indian hemp and alcoholic drinks confuse the brain and when the brain is disturbed the individual is no more himself and in that condition should not undertake to drive innocent citizens. Travelling at night without light cause boat accidents. This is because no driver can sea clearly. when everywhere is dark. Technical fault can also cause boat accidents. Engines can develop problems at any point of the sea journey thereby inducing boat mishap. Absence of navigational aids at seas, rivers and creeks can cause boat mishaps. Many boats plying our sea routes are not seaworthy. Boats that are not seaworthy should’ not carry innocent seafarers. In most cases drivers overload their boats with passengers and goods in order to make quick money without regard to the capacity of the boats.
However, to check the frequent cases of boat accidents and loss of lives the above causes should be avoided. Also the small boats plying our sea routes should be phased out.
Tolofari is a Fellow,
Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria, Abuja.
Mann Tolofari
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Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
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