September 14, 2014 – At least two passengers aboard a ferry boat are feared dead after the boat conveying them to their destination within Lagos water capsized midway on Saturday.
According to Public Relations Officer, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, the boat operated and owned by Okera Nla Boat Association, took off from Okera Nla enroute Bayeku in Ikorodu but capsized before reaching destination.
He said the boat had 20 passengers on board but that 18 of them have been rescued while the remaining two are still missing as at the time of filling this report.
He added that search and rescue operation was still ongoing and that NEMA got the distress alert on Saturday adding that boat capsized at 7:30 PM.
At least three boat mishaps were recorded in a period of four months this year, January 24, March 11 and April 2nd , claiming at least 25 lives.
The boat accident at Ogogoro Village was said to have occurred when it collided with a bigger ferry while traveling in the night without headlight.
Another incident occurred in April 2nd involving a boat operated by Bell Marine Services, which had about 28 passengers on board. It was said to have disintegrated and sank in the Majidun River, Ikorodu after crashing into a wooden object in the water ways.
Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) said 1, 800,000 passengers currently use boat as a means of transport in Lagos state from a modest beginning of 300,000 per month.