Published By Cliffsimeon Akalonu
At least one person died and 16 others rescued on Lagos waterways on Monday, when the boat in which they were travelling capsized, when its hull hit an underwater obstacle.
The boat was said to be carrying 17 passengers and heading to Ikorodu from the CMS Ferry Terminal. The rescued exercise was led by the National Inland Waterways Authority’s (NIWA), search and rescue team, assisted by men of the Lagos State Waterways Agency (LASWA).
A statement from NIWA’s Lagos Area Manager, Engr. Sarat Lara Braimah, on Monday, said the boat left from CMS ferry terminal at exactly 16:35hrs.
The boat with Name “TEMI 3 Global”, was said to have been carrying 17 passengers into the journey and nearing Adekunle Waterfront after 15 minutes of takeoff, the boat hit an underwater obstacle which broke the hull of the boat and resulted to the capsizing of the boat.
According to the press statement, the National Inland Waterways Authority Search and Rescue Team, immediately swung into action, accompanied by LASWA, Fishermen, Marine Police and other boat operators, which led to the rescue of 16 passengers while one person died on the way to the hospital.
“We will keep doing all we can to stop future occurrences by making sure that wrecks are totally removed from the waterways as safety and security of lives and properties on the waterways are our watch word”.
Engr Braimah sincerely condoled with the family of the deceased and pray for the soul of the dead.