The Malele, Niger state boat mishap in which about 76 persons died, has been described as a national tragedy and embarrassment.
The President of the Association, Mr Gani Tarzan Balogun said the Nigerian government must find a lasting solution the the water ways mishap in Niger State.
According to him, government needs to dredge and remove wreck from the Malele Kebbi Waterways.
” I can’t understand it, the usual blame game against water transporters and boat operators. The stereotype and the often rush to call boat operators names without due investigation to find out if overloading and sundry operational failings is behind the accident. Someone need to come out to tell us what government has done,” he stated.
He said some of the contribution by the association includes organised training and retraining of Atbowaton members, donation of life jackets and also sought the support of the traditional institutions to help drive home the need for obedience and observance to extant safety regulations on the Waterways by both the Operators and water users.
” The truth is that Atbowaton cannot keep the Waterways safe alone and also create enabling operational environment. It is not all accidents on Water that are attributable to overloading and non wearing of life jackets, there are system failures on Waterways such as mapping, dredging and wreck removals. Those are the major issues across the waterways in those areas and until both the state and Nigerian governments, appreciate the fact that the River Niger from malele down to Kebbi and further ahead needs serious attention as a channel of huge economic activities, then more of what happened, may still reoccur,” he said.
He said; ”It is time Nigeria realises that water is the safest means of transportation if the government provides the enabling environment for it to strive.
” I am so unhappy and disappointed even with the way, Nigerians kept low profile on this national tragedy, maybe because those who lost their lives are poor farmers and merchants, maybe because we as a nation has not come to reality that waterways transportation is the safest means of moving persons and goods.”
On planned visit to the grieving families of the victims, Mr Balogun said a special team of Atbowaton investigators has been dispatched to malele to work with its leadership in that area.
The national leadership is planning to visit the Emir of Borgu and the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Sani Bello, to find ways to mitigate accidents on the Waterways and for an urgent need to construct a world class Jetty at malele.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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