A boat accident along the waterways of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa State has claimed the life of one passenger, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
Chairman of the Nigerian Maritime Workers Union, Bayelsa State chapter, Comrade Ogoniba Ipigansi, who confirmed the incident, described it as “yet another avoidable tragedy” on the state’s busy river routes.
While details of the mishap remain sketchy, Ipigansi stressed that preliminary reports pointed to non-compliance with basic safety measures.
“We are deeply saddened by this loss. Once again, we re-emphasise the urgent need for all river craft operators and commuters to strictly adhere to maritime safety protocols wearing life jackets, avoiding night travel, and not overloading boats,” he said.
Southern Ijaw, the largest local government area in Bayelsa and entirely riverine, records frequent boat mishaps, many attributed to poor maintenance of wooden boats, overloading, and disregard for weather warnings.
The Maritime Workers Union renewed its call for the Bayelsa State Government and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to intensify enforcement of safety regulations and provide modern life-saving equipment at major jetties across the state.
The identity of the deceased and the exact circumstances of the accident are still being ascertained by marine police and local authorities.
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