Niger boat crash: More tears as death toll hits 30

File: Boat accident

The National Emergency Management Agency has confirmed that 30 people lost their lives in the tragic boat accident that occurred in the Gausawa community, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

The agency added that 50 passengers were rescued from the incident, while one more body was recovered.

The accident, which happened on Tuesday, involved a boat carrying about 90 passengers along a water channel in Gausawa.

The Head of Press Unit at NEMA, Manzo Ezekiel, disclosed this in a press statement on Thursday.

Boat accidents have remained a recurring tragedy in Nigeria, especially in communities where water transport is a major means of movement. Many of these crashes are linked to overloading, poor enforcement of safety regulations, use of rickety vessels, and inadequate life-saving equipment.

In Niger State and other parts of the country, such incidents have claimed hundreds of lives in recent years, highlighting the urgent need for stricter safety standards, improved monitoring of waterways, and community awareness on safe boating practices.

Providing an update on the tragedy, the statement noted that the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, directed the agency’s Minna Operations Office to intensify ongoing search and rescue operations. Punch