How the boat capsized, boat captain was drunk – survivor
By Victoria Adonye Ibiama
A pregnant woman and two other female passengers have lost their lives following a devastating boat accident involving 11 passengers enroute from Bonny to Port Harcourt.
News Diet gathered that the passenger boat, which capsized on Monday afternoon, claimed the lives of 3 female passengers while several others are currently hospitalized at Channels Clinic, Bonny Island, Rivers State.
Recounting the tragic event, one of the survivors, Blessing Hart, lamented that passengers had earlier complained about the boat operator being tipsy before the voyage.
With a tremor in her voice, she narrated the incident to our correspondent; “The chaotic moment started when the vessel encountered trouble, leaving passengers scrambling for safety amidst the unforgiving currents of the river.”
“The life vests given to us were outdated, mere relics of safety equipment that offered little protection. As the boat began to falter, panic ensued, and many passengers found themselves unable to rely on these substandard lifejackets.”
“Some passengers, including the pregnant woman, were unable to swim. Despite our best efforts to assist them, the odds were stacked against us.”
Local authorities have been urged to take action, with indigenes and residents of Bonny appealing to the Chairperson of the Bonny Local Government, Mrs. Anengi Barasua, for support and intervention.
Barasua, however, swiftly responded to the tragedy by personally visiting the survivors in the hospital, even she she reiterated her commitment to their welfare and recovery.
During her visit, Mrs. Barasua took measures to address safety concerns by retrieving outdated and defective life vests from the Bonny Maritime Transport Association (BMTA).
In an exclusive interview, the Port Harcourt Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Bernard Ekawu, stated that the waterways Authority is yet to ascertain the cause of the accident.
“The information regarding the accident remains somewhat sketchy. Given the holiday season, our efforts to gather detailed insights are ongoing. We are currently in the process of engaging with the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) to ascertain whether the accident stemmed from operator error or if there were concerns regarding the seaworthiness of the vessel,” the NIWA Area Manager said.
Mr. Ekawu emphasized the importance of a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of the tragedy and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
While expressing regret and dissatisfaction at the tragic boat incident, he reaffirmed NIWA’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of inland water transportation, even as he caller for collaboration and cooperation among stakeholders to uphold maritime safety standards.
Also speaking, Bonny Island’s House of Representatives member, Mr. Hart Cyril has called on the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and the Ministry of Works to expedite efforts to finalize the 14% section of the Bonny-Bodo Road.
This road completion, according to him, will avail residents with a safer alternative route, potentially preventing future tragedies on the waterways.
