Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar has urged the authorities to provide life jackets in areas where commuters see boats as their major means of transportation.
He made the call on the heel of the recent mishap that happened recently happened in Niger State, News About Nigeria reports.
“We have had too many incidents of this nature that have led to avoidable loss of lives. We can do much more by encouraging the provision of life jackets by governments in places where boat transportation is a preferred form of movement from one place to the other to minimise the loss of lives,” a tweet by Mr Atiku read.
On Sunday a wooden boat carrying more than 100 people overturned in a community between Jebba and Kainji Dam in the Mokwa local government area of Niger state. The passengers were travelling from the Gbajibo riverside to Tungan-Mango for farming activities.
Women and kids make up the majority of the victims.
With more than 30 individuals being rescued by emergency personnel, the number of fatalities in the Niger State boat accident has risen to 26.
The most recent number was reported on Sunday evening by the Niger State Emergency Management Agency which supervised the rescue effort by local divers and naval police.
Three months ago, a boat transporting families returning from a wedding capsized in a river in Kwara State, killing all those on board.
However, as at the time of filing this report, there were unconfirmed reports that the death toll had risen to 30.
