From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The management of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Lokoja, has condoled with the families of 15 persons who lost their lives during the unfortunate boat mishap that occurred last week at Mai-Adua local government area of Katsina state.
The National Inland Waterways Authority in a condolence message signed by its General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Jibril Darda’u expressed sadness over the incident.
The message reads in parts: “We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. We are greatly pained that this mishap occurred, despite all the measures the Authority has put in place to forestall such mishaps. Only recently, the Authority distributed life jackets and some patrol vessels to all our Area Offices across the country, to enhance surveillance and monitoring of activities on the waterways.
“We further wish to appeal to passengers and boat drivers to obey the rules and guidelines regulating passenger transportation. The use of life jackets; no sailing at night; the use of standard boats and not overloading the boats are key guidelines for safe passenger transportation.
“As we condole with the government and people of Katsina State and in particular, the families of the deceased, we shall not relent on our efforts to curb these occurrences within our inland waterways”