Six students have died after a wooden boat conveying them to Gboko, Benue State to resume academic activities, the Benue State House of Assembly has been told.
Nine others were hospitalised after the January 19 incident, according to Engr. Ezra Nyiyongo, (APC/Ukum), who moved a motion seeking to establish a taskforce to regulate boat operations on river Buruku in the state.
Nyiyongo said all the victims of the boat mishap were indigenes of Tsaav Council Ward in Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The lawmaker noted that river Buruku served as a major transportation route for rural communities in Buruku, Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala LGAs, especially for students, traders and other commuters.
He said that this was due to the absence of safe and functional road networks along the axis.
He stated that boat transportation on the river remained largely unregulated, with little or no provision for life jackets, safety enforcement or monitoring by relevant authorities.
“This unsafe situation has resulted in frequent boat accidents, leading to the loss of lives and property,” he said.
He added that the continued neglect of river transportation safety, exposes commuters to avoidable dangers.
Contributing to the debate, Mr McClinton Manger (APC/Tarka), who seconded the motion, stressed the need for all boat operators to be registered with the ministry.
He also urged the need to mandate the operators to provide life jackets for passengers.
He further urged the proposed taskforce to ensure that boats were seaworthy, and that fuel was properly contained in engines, before operators were allowed to ferry passengers.
On his part, the Majority Leader, Mr Thomas Dugeri (APC/Kwande West), described it as a vital route linking the North-East to Benue and the southern part of the country.
He called for completion of the bridge in the area, to prevent further fatality.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the house, Mr Alfred Emberga, enjoined members to observe a minute’s silence in honour of the deceased students.
The house further resolved that relevant house committees should investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, and report their findings.
The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, in collaboration with concerned MDAs, was consequently directed to establish a task force with the mandate to register and license all boats and operators on river Buruku.
They were also tasked with enforcing compulsory use of life jackets, and strict passenger load limits. (NAN)
