Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the government to invest more in water transportation safety. He urged authorities to focus on infrastructure, monitoring, and public awareness to prevent future boat accidents.
Atiku made this call in a statement on Thursday after a tragic boat accident in Gausawa community, Malale Ward of Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State, which reportedly claimed 29 lives.
The ill-fated boat was carrying about 90 passengers, including women and children, when it collided with a tree stump. Overloading was suspected as a possible cause of the mishap.
Atiku, who was the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), sent his condolences to the families of the victims, the Gausawa community, and the government and people of Niger State.
He described the incident as a painful reminder of the urgent need to improve safety on Nigeria’s waterways.
“This unfortunate incident highlights the recurring risks associated with water transportation in our riverine communities,” he said.
Atiku noted that boat travel is an essential means of transportation for many Nigerians, making it critical to put the right safety measures in place.
He stressed that overloading must be stopped, capacity limits must be respected, and the use of life jackets should be made compulsory.
“The cost of safety is far cheaper than the cost of lives cut short in preventable tragedies,” he added.
He further urged authorities to treat this incident as a wake-up call to prioritize investment in waterway safety infrastructure, strict monitoring, and awareness campaigns to avoid future disasters.
Atiku also offered his prayers and sympathy to the families and communities affected, saying: “My deepest condolences to the people and government of Niger State and the local authorities.”
