The captain of the ill-fated boat
that claimed the lives of five persons on Ikorodu waterway on Saturday had been
blamed for the accident and immediately arrested.
The Lagos State Emergency Management
Agency (LASEMA) said that the captain was not only inexperienced was riding a
faulty boat and also over speeding.
According to LASEMA, if the captain
had been experienced, he would have been able to detect that the engine of the
boat was faulty.
Five persons died after being rushed
to two hospitals, Ikorodu General Hospital and a privately owned Micai Hospital
in Bayeku- Igbogbo, Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
The General Manager, LASEMA, Hon. Michael
Akindele, who confirmed the accident said: “If not for the timely intervention
of the local fishermen in Bayeku, the entire 20 passengers and two crew members
would have all died. We got a distress call from Lagos State Command and
Control center on the mishap at about 1:29pm on Saturday. Four of the victims
were taken to Micai Hospital Bayeku, three responded to treatment while one
died. Seven others among those rescued were taken to Ikorodu General Hospital;
four were confirmed dead, two were treated and discharged, while one of them is
critical and receiving treatment.”
The GM said that 17 in all were
rescued, while five were confirmed dead.
He added: “The boat, being an enclosed
boat, exacerbated the chances of the survivors. The captain has been arrested
and is currently being questioned by Marine Police from Awolowo Road, Ikoyi.”
The boat was said to be from Oke Ira
Nla Jetty, Eti-osa Local Government Area, enroute Bayeku-Igbogbo in Ikorodu.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Government
said it would embark on an aggressive campaign and enforcement of guidelines
for commercial boat operators to reduce incidents of boat mishaps in the state.
The Managing Director of Lagos State
Waterways Authority, LASWA, Ms. Abisola Kamson, gave this indication in a
statement issued on Sunday in Lagos.
Kamson said that the new drive was
in line with the commitment of the present administration of Governor Akinwunmi
Ambode to ensure that water transportation remained the most efficient and cost
effective mode of transportation.
She said: “The Lagos State
Government in its drive to promote a multi-modal transport system, especially
the movement of passengers, goods and services on its waterways, will under no
circumstances compromise safety standards and the protection of lives and
property. As such, we restate our commitment to the promotion of safety
measures and ensure that all operators comply with safety standards in line
with global best practices.”
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