TWO PASSENGERS DIE, ONE MISSING IN ANOTHER BOAT ACCIDENT IN LAGOS
Two passengers were confirmed dead and another declared missing after a fishing boat conveying seven persons capsized on Monday, August 31, in Lagos State, Nigeria's commercial hub.
The boat was said to be transporting the passengers from Makoko community to Offin in Ikorodu.
The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) confirmed the incident in a statement made available to newsmen through its General Manager, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel.
Emmanuel said four passengers were rescued by responders, two died, while a passenger is missing from the Ibeshe fishing boat mishap.
Read Also: 7 DIE, 14 RESCUED IN BOAT ACCIDENT IN LAGOS
The boat had two toddlers on board but the agency did not disclose if the toddlers were the casualties of the accident.
During an interview with newsmen, the LASWA head said that the fishing boat capsized because it was operating outside its fishing capability and was not equipped with necessary safety gadgets for passenger ferry operation it undertook.
"A boat mishap occurred at about 7 pm today Monday the 31st of August 2020, around Offin Ibeshe Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
"According to the report given, a fishing boat from Makoko Community with seven passengers on board five adults including the boat captain and two toddlers capsized into they Lagos lagoon while heading to Offin area of Ikorodu," the agency said.
LASWA said a rescue operation in ongoing to find the remaining victims.
Recall that the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) had threatened to deregister and withdraw operational licences of indicted boat captains.
It also said that unscheduled and random checks of boats to ascertain their seaworthiness will be part of the new safety measures.
Several boat accidents have been recorded in the Lagos Inland waterways, which have led the loss of lives.
The Lagos State Government had said 7 people have died while 14 have been rescued in a recent boat accident in the State.
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