The recent OceanGate submersible incident which claimed five lives gripped the attention of the world.
Even though deep-sea exploration hasn’t entirely picked up in Nigeria, we’ve had a number of waterway transportation mishaps that resulted in major loss of lives. Here are some of the painful incidents.
Source: Marine Link
Nigeria’s sunken $103.4 million gunboat, 2021
In April 2022, a patrol gunboat in the Global West Vessels Specialists (GWVS) sank at the Kirikiri Terminal, Apapa Lagos. The boat was acquired more than 10 years ago at the whooping sum of $103.4 million and was delivered to the country in January 2012.
Assistant director of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Osagie Edward, maintained that both the boat and the management were still under investigation. Edward said the boat had been the subject of litigation and was under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s custody.
Kwara boat disaster, 2023
Source: The Nation
More than a hundred passengers met an untimely death on June 12, 2023, on their way to Niger state after attending a relative’s wedding in Kwara state. A vessel conveying the passengers capsized and split into two on the Niger River near Pategi, Kwara state.
Reports claimed that more than 200 people boarded the boat, which was way past its capacity of 100 passengers. Kwara police spokesman, Okasanmi Ajayi, in a statement, said: “One part of the boat by the engine side collapsed where water penetrated the boat, which ultimately led to the boat capsizing.”
A survivor of the boat mishap told the BBC that many died trying to save their children from drowning. Alhassan’s sister survived but not her 7-year-old son. President Bola Tinubu, Emir of Patigi Ibrahim Umar Bologi II and Governor of Kwara AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq were among public leaders who expressed sympathies for the families of the deceased.
Anambra boat accident, 2022
Yet another marine disaster rocked the nation in October 2022, when a boat carrying at least 80 people capsized in the Ogbaru area of Anambra state.
According to the BBC, most of the passengers aboard were women and children who had fled their community after it had been heavily flooded. Former president Muhammadu Buhari offered his condolences to family members of the deceased passengers. No rescue operations could be carried out. The south-east coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said, “The water level is very high and too risky for a smooth search and rescue operation.” About 76 people were confirmed dead.
Kebbi boat mishap, 2021
Source: Channels
In May 2021, some residents (mostly women and children) of Lokon Minna departed the village in central Niger state on a boat trip to a market in Warra Kebbi state. The boat conveying between 150 and 200 passengers collided with an object in the river which caused it to split into two and sink. According to Yahaya Sarki, a spokesman for the then governor of Kebbi, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, it was hard to determine the number of people lost to the boat mishap.
However, during a condolence visit from Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara, Bagudu revealed that only 22 survivors were rescued, with 72 bodies recovered.
Niger River boat mishap, 2017
In September 2017, an overcrowded boat conveying passengers on the Niger River in north-western Nigeria capsized. According to the BBC, at least 33 bodies, including that of children, were recovered from the ocean.
The unfortunate incident, which happened on a Wednesday in Lolo village in Kebbi state, didn’t get any media coverage until Friday. Suleiman Mohammed Karim, a NEMA coordinator, told the AFP that survivors claimed about 150 people travelled on the boat, which only had a capacity of 70. Of the 150, about 84 people were rescued, with other missing passengers presumed dead.
Lagos boat mishap, 2022
Tragedy struck in the Sumola Aniajogun family of Ibeshe after 16 relatives lost their lives in a boat accident along the Ojo area of Lagos state. The W19 passenger fibre boat they boarded was headed to Ibeshe from Mile 2 when it capsized.
The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) confirmed that a distress call reporting the incident was placed at about 7.45 p.m. on a Friday. The passengers included children and they all had their life jackets on. According to LASWA, the boat broke the waterway rules against late travelling by setting sail at 7 p.m.
Rescue missions by LASWA, National Inland Waterways (NIWA) and Nigerian Marine Police and the State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) all proved abortive with only the boat found after hours of searching.
Calabar boat mishap, 2023
Source: Issues Magazine
One of the most recent marine disasters in Nigeria involved medical students who were attending the Nigerian Medical Students’ Association (NIMSA) health week. The students had hopped on a boat cruise to visit a Slave Trade site at a resort as part of social activities for the week, but things took an ugly turn.
According to a statement released by NIMSA, 13 students were onboard along with a driver. Shortly after takeoff, the engine went off, causing water to get into the boat before it eventually capsized. Naval officers were able to save ten out of 13 students who were onboard. Cross River commissioner of police, Gyogon Augustine Grimah, confirmed the death of the three medical students.
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