The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, and Anambra West Local Government, have sympathised with Mr Sunday Nnalue’s family on the death of their sons who were involved in boat accident on Thursday, January 4, 2024.
Voice of Nigeria gathered that the victims, Onyeka, aged 12; Isreal, aged 10; and their mother, Gloria who was rescued, were returning from holiday when the Kogi-Anambra bound wooden boat they were traveling in rammed into a snag on the water channel and capsized at the Mmiata banks of the River Niger.
Addressing the bereaved Nnalue family, the Southeast Zonal Coordinator of the NEMA, Mrs Ngozi Echeazu said the visit was to sympathise and comfort them.
She promised that stakeholders meeting would be convened to discuss concerns raised and find solutions, including ensuring enforcement of wearing of life-saving jacket while traveling through the water.
He expressed hope that concerns shown by government at federal, state and local levels will go a long way in giving the bereaved family the needed courage to put the incident behind and move on with life.
Mr. Nnanyelugo Ezeani represented her at the visit.
The Executive Secretary, Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Paul Odenigbo, who thanked God for sparing the life of a member of the Nnalue’s family, said government would be properly briefed for possible assistance, just as proper investigations would continue to help in forestalling future occurrence.
The Transition Committee Chairman of Anambra West LGA, Mr. Felix Ikechi said the joint visit was to commiserate with family.
He advised that going forward, nobody travels through the waterways without wearing life-saving jacket, a measure he said would be made a policy.
He said there is need to regulate and monitor activities of those traveling and conveying people and goods through the waterways.
He also gave financial support to the family.
Mr. Sunday Nnalue, father of the deceased, who narrated how he was summoned through phone calls to the accident scene where he found his wife alive and two children dead, thanked government for the concerns towards him and his family at the difficult moment.
Earlier, some family members, relatives and sympathizers who joined in receiving the delegation, including Chief Matthias Ameke and Mr. Jude Emeka, said with the visit, Governor Soludo has shown he is leading a government with human face.
They, however, called for more attention to the waterways; just as it is done to the road as well as provision of healthcare services along riverine areas.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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