The National Inland Waterways Authority has said that it will make use of local manpower to enforce operational guidelines on the nation’s waterways to prevent a recurrence of last Monday’s Kwara boat accident that claimed about one hundred and six lives.
The Managing Director, NIWA, Dr George Moghalu, while speaking with journalists over the weekend during a visit to Patigi said preliminary investigations have shown that the accident could have been avoided if specific protocols were followed, but vowed that all indicted persons would be punished.
He further added that over ninety-percent of accidents that happen on waterways in Nigeria occur either in the night or early hours of the morning, stating that the reason is that the vessel could not apply navigational aid.
According to Dr George, the boat ought not to carry between 50 and 60 passengers.
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