TheCable

The Nigeria Inland Waterway Authority (NIWA) says the Kwara boat mishap that killed over 100 people was caused by an avoidable human error.

TheCable had reported how over 100 passengers returning from a wedding event died after the boat conveying them capsized in Egbu village, in the Patigi LGA of the state.

The victims — including women and children — were said to be returning to their base in Patigi from Egboti, a community in Niger state.

President Bola Tinubu had ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.

Speaking on Tuesday after paying a visit to the community to commiserate with the locals, George Moghalu, managing director of NIWA, said the boat was conveying over 250 people, all without life jackets. He added that the vessel’s engine was also weak.

Moghalu also confirmed that 107 passengers died while 146 were rescued.

“The boat accident was due to human error that was avoidable,” he said.

“From the report that we have received so far, the vessel was on the water at about 2:30 am and there’s a standard protocol that vessels are not allowed to travel after 6 pm because experience has shown that over 90 percent of accidents that happen on the waterways occur either at night or early in the morning.

“The boat was heavily overloaded. It had no business carrying over 250 passengers. It was practically impossible for the vessel to operate safely with that load.”

Moghalu assured that the agency was already taking steps to make sure there is no reoccurrence.

“Our target is not only to know what happened but to stop such from happening again,” he said.