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