Boat mishap: Kwara outlaws waterways travel without life jacket

Taraba water transport union urges FG to subsidise life jackets

The Kwara State House of Assembly on Thursday passed a motion outlawing anyone travelling on waterways in the state without a life jacket.

Last weekend, no fewer than 20 people died in a boat mishap at Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of the state.

A member representing Edu constituency in the State House of Assembly, who moved the motion under matter of public importance on the floor of the House, said that it has become necessary to avert recurrence of boat mishaps in Lafiagi.

The lawmaker, who expressed worries over the death of the victims, said, “There is need to call on the National Inland Waterways Agency (NIWA), to ensure that no boat or canoe is over-loaded to prevent future mishaps.”

He requested the Assembly to send a team to pay a condolence visit to the Emir of Lafiagi and families of the victims.

Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad, said the motion was adopted in order for a law to be enacted that would ensure such tragedy does not occur anywhere in the state again.