Revealed: You Won't Believe The Number Of People Who Died In Boat Accidents Around Nigeria In 3 Years

It has been revealed that no fewer than 936 people have died in several boat mishaps in the last three and half years in Nigeria.

This revelation comes as the nation continues to lose its citizens over unregulated waterways. 

This is even as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Tuesday directed immediate probe of recent boat mishaps that have become a recurring decimal in Nigeria. 

However, beyond the directive by the president, experts who spoke to Daily Trust urged both the federal and state governments to go beyond rhetoric of ordering for probes and condolences and take concrete measures to address the menace. 

They also called for the provision of modern boats to replace wooden barges and canoes being used for transportation in many communities. 

Daily Trust reports that despite being blessed with abundant waterways crisscrossing 28 states and spanning 10,000 kilometres with about 3,800 kilometres navigable seasonally, Nigeria has continued to record deaths on the waterways due to a lack of effective regulation and enforcement of existing guidelines.

As a result, the water transportation system is populated by the locals without the requisite expertise while failing to adhere to standards and recommended practices. 

Water accidents have claimed dozens of lives in the last eight days, sparking criticism about the management of water transport in the northeastern state that is blessed with rivers and lakes. 

The most recent wave of accidents started on September 4 when a canoe travelling between Mayo-Ine and Mayo Belwa in Mayo Belwa Local Government Area capsized, killing two of its passengers. Four days later, another accident involving a canoe conveying 23 traders and farmers from Rugange village to Yola town in Yola South area occurred on Njuwa Lake at Dandu village causing the death of 15 people. 

Three days ago, the nation again witnessed mishaps in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger where over 30 farmers were reported killed. 

On Monday, another boat conveying dozens of passengers was overturned by strong wind in Gurin, Fufore Local Area of Adamawa State. Local divers recovered 11 bodies and many more remained missing. 

The incident in Patigi, Kwara State in June this year is the deadliest in recent times with over 100 people killed. 

The boat capsized when the deceased were returning from a marriage ceremony in the neighbouring state of Niger.

Analysis of different boat mishaps carried out by Daily Trust revealed that 936 people have so far died in the last three years in states like Lagos, Niger, Kwara, Kebbi, Adamawa, Nasarawa and Akwa Ibom. 

In 2020, no fewer than 131 deaths were recorded with several others unaccounted for in several incidents in Anambra, Cross River, Bauchi, Lagos, Benue Niger, and Sokoto, among others. 

In 2021, no fewer than 281 people died in different mishaps recorded in Sokoto, Bayelsa, Lagos, Kano, Niger, Taraba, Ondo, and Kebbi, among others. 

The Kebbi incident in 2021 in Warrah Village, Tsihuwan Labata, Ngaski LGA was the deadliest with 156 people dead. 

The year 2022 was also the deadliest within the period under review with no fewer than 313 people killed while 216 people have so far lost their lives in 2023.