Boat Mishap: Provide Safety Measures for Villagers, Niger Gov Urges HYPPADEC

Laleye Dipo in Minna

Worried by the death of seven people, three of them members of the same family in a boat mishap at Zhigir village last weekend, the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has told the Hydro Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) to provide safety measures for villagers in the riverine areas of the state.

Bello, who described the incident as painful and unfortunate, said the quick intervention by HYPPPADEC will save the people from future occurrence of the unfortunate incident.

The accident happened when the victims were travelling to neighbouring Dnaweto village for the christening of the son of a relative.

In a condolence message to the bereaved families and the Zhigir community, the governor suggested that apart from providing the villagers with life jackets, HYPPADEC should also carry out serious sensitization of members of the community on how to forstal future occurrence.

In the statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary, Mrs Mary Noel Berje, the governor said: “The people living around the new Zungeru dam must be protected.

“I am really sad with the unfortunate boat mishap. Measures need to be put in place to really avoid reoccurrence. It is good to have the dam, it is also important to protect the people living around the dam.”

Bello however acknowledged the fact that the construction of the dam is desireable as it will boost power generation in the country, but submitted that the welfare of the community must be properly taken care of.

The governor assured the people that the state government will not leave any stone unturned to ensure all necessary measures are put in place to prevent any future occurrence before commiserating with the families of the victims .

Two wives of one Mallam Muazu Babangida and their son were among the seven people that lost their lives in the boat mishap which occurred last Sunday evening.

The remains of six of the casualties were recovered from the river and buried according to Muslim rites, while the search for the seventh person has continued.

It was gathered that there were nine persons on board the ili-fated boat in as one man and a woman survived.

The accident was reportedly caused by the creation of a new river in the area where people used to travel on dry land.