Don Atori, Minna
Governor Babangida Muazu Aliyu of Niger State, on Sunday, announced a ban on the use of old boats in ferrying passengers across rivers in the state.
The order followed the boat mishap on last Thursday which claimed 18 lives in Kokoli Village, Agwarra Local Government Area.
“The action is intended to ensure that old and rickety boats do not continue to take valuable lives in the riverine communities”, the governor said in a statement by his spokesman, Danladi Ndayebo.
Aliyu said the state Ministry for Transportation had been directed to monitor the boat operators and ensure full compliance with all safety standards.
The governor also directed operators of such ferry boats to provide life jackets to all passengers.
Aliyu assured the people of the state that other measures would be taken to ensure safe water transportation in the state.
He prayed God to grant the families of the victims of the boat mishap the courage and fortitude to bear the loss, and to grant the deceased eternal rest.
Meanwhile, over 100 people have been displaced by flood in old Awuru and Fakun communities of Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State after warnings by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) of imminent flooding in 2013.
It was gathered that the flood also submerged about 38 houses, two mosques, farm lands and the only market leaving the affected people homeless.
Those displaced have been camped in the only primary school the two communities share.
Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Anthony Anuforum, had warned of imminent flooding in Niger, Bauchi, Kaduna, Plateau and Gombe States, due to saturation of their soil moisture.
Leader of the displaced persons, Alhaji Sani Sodangi, confirmed that the state government had provided land for them to relocate to, provided a hospital and borehole there but they didn’t move because of their sources of livelihood.
Sodangi also stated that some people who are actual indigenes of the place have accepted to move but they decided to stay back because they came from Kebbi State to fish and due to the reason that they were making profit.
He added that they have lived there for more than 30 years saying: “nothing of that nature has happened to them. But we are now willing to be relocated to the new Awuru.”
Special Assistant to the Niger State Governor on Disaster and Emergency Management, Mohammed Shaba, who was on an assessment visit, said: “It was an unfortunate situation. I blame the people of the communities for their refusal to be relocated out of the flood prone areas.
“They gave some cultural beliefs and firmly holding on to them as reasons why they have refused to leave the area”.
