Diri Urges FG To Prioritise Waterways Safety, Says Kwara Boat Mishap Was Tragic

As a result of Monday’s boat accident in Kwara State, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, expressed his regret at the death toll.

Governor Diri commiserated with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the state government, the victims’ families, and the people of Kwara State.

The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, on Wednesday, said the tragedy was a sad reminder of similar incidents in riverine areas. This is particularly prevalent in Bayelsa and other coastal states in the country.

Diri said such incidents resulting in deaths would be minimised if the Federal Government, which controls the waterways, took concrete steps to prioritise safety on the country’s rivers.

He urged the Federal Government to come up with a holistic safety policy that covers not only the air and roads but also the waterways.

He contended that if that was done, operators of river transportation in the country would be compelled to comply with such measures.

Diri further stated that a situation where operators ignore safety rules to overload their boats leads to avoidable deaths.

“The boat accident that claimed over 100 lives in Kwara State is tragic.

“On behalf of the government and people of Bayelsa State, I express our condolences to my brother-governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and the people of the state.

“I also commiserate with the families of the tragedy victims.

“This incident is a sad reminder of what we face in Bayelsa, other coastal states of the Niger Delta and in similar riverine areas in other parts of the country.

“The Federal Government, which controls our waterways, needs to implement a holistic transportation policy that also ensures passenger safety on our rivers.

“Lives are lost due to lack of safety measures on waterways. The focus was on road infrastructure and air transportation. Waterways are equally important as alternative transportation methods.