By Innocent Orok
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) said is saddened about the report of a boat mishap at Umumu Anam, Anambra West LGA, Anambra State which occur between Thursday the 4th and Friday the 5th of January, 2024 at about 7am.
In a press statement
Signed by Jibril Darda’u
General Manager, Corporate Affairs of NIWA, he said the Authority is aware that the sad incident involved a passenger boat travelling from Idah in Kogi State to Onitsha in Anambra state.
“Upon the receipt of the sad report, relevant personnel from the Marine department of NIWA were deployed for rescue, recovery, and proper investigation.
“Preliminary reports indicated that the wooden engine boat rammed into a snag on the water channel and capsized with about 50 passengers on board. From the records, 8 persons were confirmed dead at the scene, while 38 others were rescued immediately.
“The recovery efforts are ongoing and the Authority will provide detailed information to the public as soon as the field officers report back to the headquarters. The Authority sincerely commiserates with the friends and families of the deceased and prayed to God to rest their souls.
” In the meantime, we want to reassure the general public that NIWA is doing everything possible to ensure safer inland waterways for the movement of people and goods across our inland waterways”, the statement said.
