26th May, 2014
By John Tosin
Movement is one of the characteristics of living things. Therefore, man, as a living being, cannot but always move from one place to another. In Nigeria the most popular and common means of transportation is road followed by air for the affluent people who can afford it and by rail which is dead but just being revived.
Another means of transportation that is common among the people that live in riverine areas is water. But it is unfortunate that the incessant boat mishap in Lagos and in other parts of the country has led to the death of some hapless Nigerians who were probably trying to avoid traffic jam that is common on some of our busy and bad roads.
On Wednesday, 2 April, a boat conveying more than 20 people from Ebute Ero in Lagos Island for Majidun, Ikorodu, at about 5.34 p.m. capsized. The ill-fated boat that claimed the lives of eight people was reported to have hit an object in the lagoon before it capsized, said Bell Marine Services, the owner of the boat. Twelve passengers were rescued after the accident occurred between Eko Bridge and Ikorodu waterways in Lagos.
The accident occurred three weeks after a boat conveying at least 24 passengers capsized in Festac Town, Lagos, killing 13, most of them hurrying to watch a European Champions League game.
Also, about two months ago, another boat capsized at Ogogoro village in Navy Town, Apapa, killing at least 10 people, including a mother and her child.
Also in Rivers and Niger states many lives have been lost to boat accidents.
In all these unfortunate incidents one thing that cannot be ruled out is the human factor. Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria after the accident that occurred between Eko Bridge and Ikorodu waterways in Lagos, Yinka Marinho, the Managing Director of Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), said that the “passengers failed to fasten their life jackets properly.”
On the other hand, some of the lucky survivors claimed that the cramming of about 25 people into a boat designed to carry 20 passengers caused the accident that led to the death of eight people. The survivors also attributed the accident to the boat driver who was over speeding, persistently ignoring pleas from the passengers to slow down.
“At the front, there was supposed to be one passenger but he (the driver) was carrying three. And he was running,” said Mrs. Bunmi, who claimed she lost about N350, 000 of her trade money in the accident.
“When the boat hit something on the ground, the boat pierced and water began to enter. After the driver disappeared, we found ourselves on top of the water for about 30 minutes. It was the fishermen that helped us. Because of the life jackets they were seeing our heads.”
Therefore to avoid a similar incident in future, below are some causes and how to avoid them;
•Operator’s Inexperience: Inexperience of operators is the leading cause of boat accidents in Lagos and nationwide as some just drive boat to make ends meet without knowing the rules and regulation that guide the business. Because of this, The Ministry of Transportation, the Management of Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and similar agencies in other states that engage in water transportation must introduce boating education class for the Association of Ferry Operators.
Boating laws and regulations, navigation rules, knot tying, trailering and what to do in a weather-related emergency are topics that must be included in the training.
Taking a boating education class and being alert while on the water can lower driver’s chances of run-ins with other boats. All boaters need to know the meaning and implication of “stand on” and “give way.”
Henceforth, taking the course must be made mandatory before any ferry operator can legally operate their watercraft.
•Operator Inattention: A lot of things on the water compete for one’s attention. Therefore operators must pay attention to what matters. They must always be reminded that boats do not have brakes. Water adds an element of unpredictability when they need to react quickly. Therefore, the operators must not let the thought of going for the next trip or the possibility of making friends with the boat full of beautiful ladies next to them become a distraction.
•Passenger/Skier Behaviour: The operator of the watercraft is responsible for the safety all passengers. He must keep them seated while underway, and should not let any of them to obstruct his view. That can make the rest of the day a little uncomfortable for everyone aboard.
In the same vein, the passenger(s) should not tow a skier who wants to ride in a reckless manner. This can get you both in trouble and cause accidents. When pulling a skier, a designated observer must be in the boat. You also must display a 12-inch by 12-inch red or orange flag while a skier is in the water.
•Weather: Before driver take-off, he must check his safety equipment, listen to the forecast and create a float plan that details where and when he will be boating. It must be noted that high winds can make waters very treacherous.
•Equipment Failure: Regular maintenance is part of owning a watercraft. The Bell Marine Services and other boat owners must cultivate the habit of regular maintenance of their boats and they must stay away from taking shortcuts that may cost them more in the long run. Proper maintenance also helps protect both passenger and the driver from carbon monoxide poisoning. If there is a chance that the boat shall be going for evening or knight trip, the driver must check that the navigational lights work before leaving the dock or slip.
•Reckless Operation: The following activities are considered reckless and should be avoided: allowing a passenger to ride on the bow, transom or gunwales of your watercraft while it is underway; intentionally splashing other watercraft; jumping a wake in the vicinity of another watercraft while on a personal watercraft. Take a moment to observe how boaters around you are operating their vessels. If you’re not in the norm, you may be operating recklessly or negligently. At all times, a wise boater maintains a safe reaction interval from other boaters.
•Excessive Speed and Alcohol Use: Excessive Speed Boats are bigger and faster than ever. Just because the watercraft can go 70-plus mph doesn’t mean it should be operated that fast. Slowing down increases boat operator’s odds of seeing people and objects in the water, sandbars and other hazards. It also increases his general awareness of what’s going on around him.
Some survivors of the accident that occurred between Eko Bridge and Ikorodu waterways in Lagos attributed the accident to the boat driver who was over speeding, persistently ignoring pleas from the passengers to slow down. Also during the Lagos State House of Assembly probe, the house was informed by Mr. Kayode Opeifa, the state Commissioner of Transportation that the accident was caused by a strange log that the boat ran into which damaged the boat and eventually sank it. It is possible that the accident could have been avoided if the driver was not over-speeding.
On the issue of alcohol consumption, an operator on the water must obey the same laws as a driver behind the wheel of a car on the roadway. One cannot be impaired to the slightest degree or have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) exceeding 0.08. That means if an operator can feel the effects of alcohol at all and choose to operate, he is breaking the law and endangering the lives of his passengers and fellow boaters. Although alcohol may not be the immediate cause of accidents, it can never be counted out among the causes of both water and road accidents.
•Overloading: Boat operators must always check the manufacturer’s capacity plate for the maximum weight or number of individuals their vessels can safely carry on board. Disregarding this requirement can have serious secondary consequences. Having more people on board can cause accident and during an accident it can also lead to more injuries or deaths, putting pressure on limited rescue and law enforcement resources turning an accident scene into a triage situation.
In some instances, it is rare that there are enough life jackets aboard overcrowded vessels, I guess that was the reason some passengers were not wearing life jackets in one of the cases mentioned earlier where at least 25 people were crammed into a boat designed to carry 20 passengers.
Obedience they say is better than sacrifice and prevention is better than cure. Therefore, the Association of Ferry Operators must be aware that most accidents are caused by a combination of the factors listed, and addressing one while ignoring others could result in mishaps.
The Ministries of Transportation in the three tiers of governments nationwide especially in the riverine areas must get serious about water transportation by making it mandatory for all the ferry operators to always comply with all the rules and regulations that guide water transportation.
Life is precious and sacred. We must therefore be safety conscious always.
•Ajiboye, a public affairs analyst, wrote in from Lagos, Nigeria via [email protected]. +2348138966292