The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), has confirmed four passengers dead and other four missing in a boat mishap on Friday night in Ikorodu Lagos.
The General Manager of the agency, Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, has confirmed that the accident happened at Owode/Ibesheboat near Ikorodu at about 8.00 p.m. on Friday evening, 3rd July 2020
Emmanuel said that the boat, marked Lalek Marine, carrying 20 passengers was heading to Ikorodu from Ebute-Ero when the incident happened.
He further said that 11 passengers were rescued while one person was critically injured.
“On Friday night, a-20 capacity passenger boat with the name “Lalek Marine” was suspected to have left Ebute Ero Jetty around 8.00 p.m. after the approved sailing time of 6.00 p.m. and didn’t arrive at its destination which was Ikorodu Terminal” He said.
The boat capsized at Owode Ibeshe, not too far away from Ikorodu. As at this time, 20 passengers were presumed on board.
The LASWA search party, local boat operators, Marine Police and the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) convened search and so far eleven passengers were rescued alive with one person in critical condition.
He Said they have four fatalities while four still missing but search and rescue is still ongoing.
He also said that the captain of the ferry was still missing and being searched for.
According to him both the boat operator and the passengers broke the law against night travel on waterways.
He said that the boat, which took off illegally from Èbúté Ẹrọ jetty, heading towards Ikorodu, ran into an unforeseen object on the waterways, which resulted in the mishap.
Emmanuel said that during this COVID-19 pandemic, The last boat is expected to leave the jetty at 6.00 p.m.
“Normally, boats are supposed to operate between 6.30 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. according to rules but during this COVID-19, operations should be between 6.30 a.m. and 6.30 p.m.’’ He added.
Emmanuel said that the Lagos State Government, through the authority, had repeatedly stated that night travel on the Lagos Inland waterways was strictly forbidden.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that on June 23, a local boat with four adult males on a boating expedition capsized due to water turbulence.
Three of the passengers were rescued alive while one was missing.
Earlier on June 18, LASWA had celebrated zero records of boat mishap in the last six months in the state waterways.
