Kwara takes tough action with new water travel safety regulations after boat accident

On Wednesday, the Kwara State government announced plans for legislation that would impose penalties and fines for violations of safety protocols on state-owned watercraft.

Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq stated during a condolence visit to the families of the victims of last Monday’s boat accident disaster, which claimed approximately 106 lives, that the proposed legislation would be sent to the parliament.

According to regional authorities and the state police command, the majority of the victims, who include 144 survivors, are from Patigi communities.

AbdulRazaq visited the palace of the Etsu Patigi before joining the governor to tour the riverine communities affected by the accident. He was accompanied by Senator Sadiq Umar (Kwara North), House of Assembly member for Patigi State Constituency, Hon. Muhammad Kareem, and Hon. Ahmed Adam Rufai.

It’s a sad development. We express our sympathies to all of our neighbors in the Patigi Emirate, especially the Etsu Patigi Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Bologi II.

On the sidelines of his visit to Kpada and Duro, the administrative centers for the Ebu and Dzakan settlements, whose residents perished in the incident, AbdulRazaq told reporters, “We are deeply saddened by the event.”

“Measures will be taken as we discuss the enforcement of safety codes with the Nigerian Inland Waterway Authority (NIWA). In order to learn more about Lagos State’s waterways law, we will also send a team there.

“Our first action is to deliver at least 1000 life jackets to the area to support safe boating.

The government will create and implement some statewide standard operating procedures (SOPs) for water travels in addition to any existing safety measures, to address issues with boat serviceability, speed limits, loading restrictions, and the wearing of life jackets by all passengers. The new irreducible minimum will be this, he continued.

According to AbdulRazaq, the government will also submit to the parliament a bill that would penalize and fine people who violate the safety protocol.

Additionally, a body that regulates water transportation in the state will be established by the government.

“This body will complement the regulatory oversight of the National Inland Water Authority (NIWA), which has the statutory responsibility to enforce safety codes on jetties, loading points, boats, canoes, barges, and life vests, among others,” he said.