On Wednesday, the Kwara State administration revealed proposals for legislation that will impose penalties and fines for infractions of safety regulations on state-owned watercraft.
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq stated during a condolence visit to the relatives of the victims of last Monday’s boat accident catastrophe, which killed about 106 lives, that the proposed law will be brought to the parliament.
According to regional officials and the state police command, the majority of the victims, who include 144 survivors, are from Patigi settlements.
Sen. Sadiq Umar (Kwara North), Hon. Muhammad Kareem, and Hon. Ahmed Adam Rufai, members of the Patigi State Constituency of the House of Assembly, accompanied AbdulRazaq as they first went to the Etsu Patigi’s palace before joining the governor in touring the riverine settlements impacted by the flood.
It’s a terrible development. We express our sympathies to all of our neighbors in the Patigi Emirate, especially the Etsu Patigi Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Bologi II.
On the sidelines of his visit to Kpada and Duro, the administrative centers for the Ebu and Dzakan communities, whose inhabitants perished in the disaster, AbdulRazaq told reporters, “We are deeply saddened by the event.”
“Measures will be taken as we discuss the enforcement of safety rules with the Nigerian Inland Waterway Authority (NIWA). In order to learn more about Lagos State’s waterways law, we will also deploy a team there.
“Our first action is to supply at least 1000 life jackets to the region to encourage safe boating.
According to AbdulRazaq, the administration would also submit to the parliament a bill that will penalize and fine anybody who violate the safety procedure.
Additionally, a body that regulates water transportation in the state will be established by the government.
“This body will complement the regulatory oversight of the National Inland Water Authority (NIWA), which has the statutory responsibility to enforce safety codes on jetties, loading points, boats, canoes, barges, and life vests, among others,” he stated.
