Boat mishap: Kwara rolls out new safety guidelines as Gov AbdulRazaq leads delegation to Patigi
•govt to give 1,000 life jackets to LG
•mulls local body to boost safe water travels
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Wednesday led a government delegation to Patigi to commiserate with families affected in the Monday night boat mishap, in which dozens have been confirmed dead.
At least 106 persons, mostly from Patigi communities, have been confirmed killed while 144 survived in the accident, according to local authorities.
Accompanied by Senator Sadiq Umar and Hon. Ahmed Adam Rufai, AbdulRazaq first headed to the palace of the Etsu Patigi who then joined the Governor to visit the riverine communities affected in the accident.
"It is a sad event. We commiserate with our people in Patigi Emirate, including the Etsu Patigi Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Bologi II. We are deeply saddened by the event," AbdulRazaq told reporters on the sideline of his visit to Kpada and Duro, the headquarters of Ebu and Dzakan settlements whose residents died in the incident.
"Measures will be taken as we are having discussions with Nigeria Inland Waterway Authority (NIWA) on enforcement of safety codes. We will also be sending a team to Lagos State on how their waterways law works.
"Our immediate step is to deliver at least 1000 life jackets to support safe travels on water in the area.
"In addition to whatever safety measures that are in place, the government will design and roll out some statewide standard operating procedures (SOPs) for water travels to cover issues of boat serviceability, speed limits, loading limits and wearing of life jackets by all passengers. This will be the new irreducible minimum."
The government will also send to the parliament a proposed legislation that imposes punishments and fines for violations of the safety protocol, according to a state government's statement released after the visit.
"The government will also set up a body that oversees water transportation in the state. This body will complement the regulatory oversights of the National Inland Water Authority (NIWA) which has the statutory responsibility to enforce safety codes on jetties, loading points, boats, canoes, barges, life vests, among others."
Rafiu Ajakaye
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Ijagbo Kolade Solagberu Erubu Face Masks Mogaji Aare Bio Ibrahim Bolakale Ayo T And K FOODS Chief Imam Of Offa Bashir Adigun Federal College Of Education (Special), Afon Aishat Mohammed Lawal Ghali Muhammed Iliasu Ilorin Like-Minds Abdulrauf Yusuf Coronavirus Ambassador Kayode Laro Ramadhan Amusement Park Yahaya Seriki Gambari Ilorin West Bello Abubakar AGILE Programme KWAFFA Lanre Issa-Onilu Standard Organization Of Nigeria Toyosi Thomas A.O. Belgore Abubakar Aliagan Barakat Community Secondary School Abdulhakeem Adelaja Amao Gamji Members Association Freshvine Nigeria Limited Daud Adeshola Lawal Jimoh Tunji Olawuyi Toyin Sanusi Tunde Yusuf Abdullahi AbdulMajeed Muideen Olaniyi Alalade Iyeru Grammar School Metro Park Ilorin Amusement Park Binta Abubakar-Mora Unicontinental Construction Company Ilorin Descendants Progressive Union Tuesday Assayomo Aisha Ahman-Pategi Zainab Abass Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf Alumni Association Of The Federal Polytechnic Offa National Information Technology Development Agency Simon Sayomi Senior Ibrahim Suleiman Odo-Owa Ilorin Anchor Men And Women Al-Hikmah University Y.A. Abdulkareem KWATMA Academic Staff Union Of Universities Umar Saro Abdulhakeem Amao Yaru SARS Apado Mohammed Katsina Ahmed Farouk Salim Nurudeen Muhammed Police Commissioner Okin Group Yunus Oniboki Pakata Development Association General Hospital, Offa Onilupeju Of Ilupeju Atiku Olatomiwa Williams