12 Killed, 4 Hospitalized as Boat Capsized in Ilashe, Lagos

Another boat mishap occurred in Lagos yesterday, when a boat conveying not less than 19 passengers on board, in Ilashe area capsized in the middle of the lagoon, killing 12 people, while four persons rescued are currently undergoing treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

According to reports, the tragedy occurred at about 3pm, killing 12 passengers, who were majorly traders and local residents traveling on the boat.

While reacting to the incident, the Managing Director of Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, Engr Abisola Kamson, said the unfortunate mishap was due to overloading of passengers on a Banana Boat and operation of illegal jetty.

Kamson said four victims of the mishap who were rescued are receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, while search and rescue operation was still on-going.

He said, “An unfortunate incident occurred at Ilashe today Sunday August 20th arising from overloading of passengers on a Banana boat taking off from an illegal Jetty which has become a perennial issue of the Lagos State Government to rid our Waterfront areas of illegal operators.

He added that, Lagos State Government, "sympathize with the families of the deceased as nine lives were lost in the mishap and four people receiving treatment in the hospital.

Though he sympathized with the victims families but emphasized the need for the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to respect the recent verdict of the Court of Appeal which upheld the powers of the State Government to control its intra-inland waterways.

 

He advised NIWA to allow the judgement of the Appeal Court granting Lagos Control of her waterways to take effect without hindrance.

“It is a matter for regret that ever since the judgement was pronounced, NIWA has ejected all State Water Guards monitoring standards from all Federal owned jetties. In spite of this, the Government of Lagos State aligns with the safety of citizens on the waterways. All Lagosians are enjoined to wear standard life jackets at all times on our Waterways,” He said.

Kamson urged boat operators and other stakeholders in the inland waterways sector to adhere strictly to safety standards at all times.

Ilashe, where the boat mishap occurred is a sleepy village and tranquil oasis, along Badagry Creek in Lagos. The locals of Ilashe are majorly fishermen and farmers

Category: Lagos News

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