7th February, 2016
Kazeem Ugbodaga
Three people have been feared dead and four others rescued alive as another boat capsized in Badagry area of Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.
Last week, a boat capsized in Ikorodu killing seven people with few rescued.
PM News gathered that the boat took off from Ebute Iworo Jetty towards Daddilowe in Badagry when it capsized.
There are conflicting figures as to the number of passengers on board when the boat capsized. While some said it was eleven passengers on board, others said it was seven.
But spokesperson, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Michael Akindele says the boat capsized around Iworo Ajido Road by Aradagun Bus stop, Badagry, saying that four people have been rescued alive and receiving treatment from officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Services, LASAMBUS.
He said the agency received the distressed call through the emergency call number of Lagos State at about 10.47am on Saturday.
“The agency immediately activated necessary emergency responders which include RRS, LASWA, NIMASA and local divers. Four people are presently receiving treatment from LASAMBUS.
“Search and rescue is still ongoing. The total number of passengers is still yet to be confirmed,” Akindele said.
It is believed that some people are still missing and may have died, but Akindele said since some people have not been found, it was wrong for LASEMA to say they were dead.
Last week, tragedy struck at Ijede area of Ikorodu, when a passenger boat capsized with seven people confirmed dead.
The 20-passenger capacity boat was reportedly conveying 17 passengers from Ijede enroute Badore when it capsized at about 10.20am Saturday. The rescue operations was carried out by the combined effort of Lagos State Water Ways Authority, Marine Police, National Inland Water Ways Authority, Emergency Response Team of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA; Lagos State Fire Service and the local divers.
After that tragedy, the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) had summoned an emergency meeting with all commercial boat operators in the state and vowed to clamp down on boat operators who continue to contravene the rules and regulations guiding their operations.
Managing Director of LASWA, Mrs. Abisola Kamson, lamented that “Despite efforts by the State Government to enforce the safety standards on the waterways, some boat operators still flout the rules and regulations thereby putting the lives of innocent citizens at risk.
“The Lagos State Government will not tolerate the operation of substandard vessels on the waterways. Any individual or corporate entity found to be operating vessels not deemed water worthy will be prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the law.”