No fewer than 182 persons were said to have died as a result of boat mishaps that occured in various parts of Niger state within three years.

A breakdown of the loss shows that 95 lives were lost in 2022, 68 in 2023, and 19 recorded so far this year, (2024).

The Niger state Deputy Governor, Comrade Yakubu Garba who disclosed this during the commemoration of the 2024 World Maritime Day and distribution of 33 fibreglass boats by the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission,(HYPPADEC) in Minna, Niger state yesterday said the procurement and distribution will go a long way in curtailing the menace on water transportation.

“The commissioning of these fibreglass boats today by N-HYPPADEC is a clear demonstration of the Commission’s mandate to the safety of lives and the prosperity of these riverine communities, whose daily lives are inextricably linked to our rivers and waterways.

“This gesture will not only save lives but give a sense of belonging to these communities and the need for continued support for government initiatives. This laudable project is not just an investment in infrastructure but an investment in the safety and security of our people.

“We understand the challenges these communities face daily and by advancing safety in the maritime sector, HYPPADEC is actively protecting lives, easing transportation and ensuring that our waterways remain a source of livelihood.
“The commissioned fibreglass boats are more than just vessels but they are symbols of progress, resilience and hope for a brighter future as they will facilitate the movement of goods and services, strengthen our trade networks, and enhance community connectivity,” the Deputy Governor remarked.

Comrade Garba noted that with safer and more reliable transportation, farmers and traders can reach markets more efficiently adding that the people can access essential services with greater ease.

He reiterated the commitment of the state government in its resolve towards partnering with HYPPADEC and other stakeholders to promote the holistic development of riverine communities.
Earlier, Managing Director, of N-HYPPADEC, Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa said majority of communities within the catchment area of the Commission are riverine adding that water transportation is not just a means of travel but the backbone of their daily life and commercial activities saying, “the reliance on water transportation system has therefore come with a heavy price as boat mishaps have equally become recurring issues in the areas.

He attributed the boat accidents to several factors which he said include the presence of tree logs or water snags which obstruct the safe passage of boats, overloading, night travels as well as failure to use lifejackets by the passengers on board.
“We have also learnt that the flow of the rivers is often affected by the operation of hydro dams, which complicate navigation for both commercial and private boat operators. We cannot forget the painful instances of boat accidents that have claimed lives and caused untold hardship in the communities neighbouring the Kainji Lake between the vicinity of Shagunu of Borgu Emirate here in Niger State and Warrah of Yauri Emirate in Kebbi State.
According to the Managing Director, “realizing the dangers posed by water snags, we collaborated with NIWA to carry out a water snags clearing project and together, we have removed a considerable number of tree logs from parts of the Kainji and Shiroro Lakes, significantly reducing the likelihood of boat accidents caused by the snags.

Yelwa also disclosed that the Commission had procured and distributed 10,000 life jackets to various communities across the N-HYPPADEC zone stressing the need for state governments to recognise the importance of water transportation and invest in it as a vital component of the national transport infrastructure.

He lamented that the continuous use of traditional wooden boats still relied on by many has increased the incidents of boat mishaps which he said made the Commission procure the modern fibreglass boats which are more durable, safer and offer superior performance in navigating the rivers.

“The traditional wooden boats that many rely on are often prone to accidents because they can easily be damaged and It is against this backdrop that we have taken a bold step to procure and distribute these 33 modern fibreglass boats and these boats are a significant improvement over the traditional wooden boats,” he declared.
A breakdown of the distribution shows that Niger state got the highest of eight of the boats.

Kaduna and Gombe states would get one boat each, Nasarawa and Taraba states would get two boats each, Benue state would get three boats, Kwara and Kogi would get four boats each, Kebbi would get six boats.