Emmanuel Thomas
Lagos, Nigeria, February 06, 2016 – At least three people are feared dead and four others rescued alive as another boat capsized in Badagry, a suburb of Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.
The boat capsized just a week, after a speed boat capsized in Ikorodu killing seven people.
We gathered that the affected boat took off from Ebute Iworo Jetty enroute Daddilowe in Badagry when the boat sank.
There are however conflicting figures as to the number of passengers on board when the boat capsized.
While some said it was eleven passengers on, others said seven.
But General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, (LASEMA), Mr. Michael Akindele said the boat capsized around Iworo Ajido Road by Aradagun Bus stop, Badagry, saying that four people have been rescued alive and receiving treatment from officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Services, LASAMBUS.
He said the agency received the distressed call through the emergency call number of Lagos State at about 10.47am on Saturday.
“The agency immediately activated necessary emergency responders which include RRS, LASWA, NIMASA and local divers. Four people are presently receiving treatment from LASAMBUS. Search and rescue is still ongoing. The total number of passengers is still yet to be confirmed,” Akindele said.
It is believed that some people are still missing and may have died, but Akindele said since some people have not been found, it was wrong for LASEMA to say they were dead.
After the Badore, Ikorodu tragedy last week, the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) summoned an emergency meeting with all commercial boat operators in the state and vowed to clamp down on boat operators who continue to contravene the rules and regulations guiding their operations.
Managing Director of LASWA, Mrs. Abisola Kamson, lamented that “Despite efforts by the State Government to enforce the safety standards on the waterways, some boat operators still flout the rules and regulations thereby putting the lives of innocent citizens at risk.
“The Lagos State Government will not tolerate the operation of substandard vessels on the waterways. Any individual or corporate entity found to be operating vessels not deemed water worthy will be prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the law.”
