… as NIWA’s investigation fingers overloading, rainy weather
The Cross River State Government yesterday shut down the Marina Resort following a boat mishap at the resort on Saturday June 24, 2023.
This is just as the Nigeria Inland Waterways (NIWA) announced that it has also arrested the operators and sealed the Jetty as the boat is not duly registered and the Jetty is also not approved by NIWA.
Its findings reveled that the accident was as a result of overloading; engine malfunction midstream, and rainy weather.
Out of the 14 medical students involved in the boat cruise 12 were rescued while three lives were lost.
A statement from the Cross River State Ministry of Culture and Tourism endorsed by the Permanent Secretary, Pastor Eme Affia, said the ministry would ensure it unravels circumstances that led to what it described as a regrettable and avoidable accident.The statement read: “We received with shock, the news of the unfortunate incident of a boat mishap at the Marina Resort involving members of the Nigerian Medical Students Association.
“Regrettably, while 12 persons were rescued comprising 10 students and two crew members, three students are yet to be found.
“We commiserate with the families of the missing students.
“Though the ill-fated cruise was a private arrangement between the students and a private operator, the oversight of safety of all life and property is paramount in the duties of the state government.
“The students concluded the arrangements for the cruise with a private boat operator during the visit to the Slave History Museum. The students had sought discounts from the management of the resort for a reduction of the entry fee for about two hundred students who were expected.
“The Boat Cruise was not part of their initial plan but was based on an impromptu decision made during the visit to the Slave Museum.
“The students were said to have been provided with life jackets and were all seated in the boat before the commencement of the cruise. The first batch of students had successfully concluded the cruise before the unfortunate incident happened.
“We take this opportunity to commend members of the Nigerian Navy and local rescue teams that stepped in to rescue the students.
“We commiserate with the families and the student association on this terrible accident. This will be the first sad incidence of this kind at the Marina Resort since it was opened.
“In a bid to get to the bottom of the matter, His Excellency the Governor of Cross River State, has swiftly shut down the resort and ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.
“Following the governor’s directive, the Ministry of Tourism will get to the bottom of the issue(s) that led to this very regrettable and avoidable accident.
“The Head of Cross River State Tourism Board (CRSTB) has been ordered to provide the safety logs of the operating boat company with the OPERATIONS UNIT for a Decisive mitigation and preventive action.”
However, NIWA in a statement yesterday, signed by its General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Jibril Darda’u, announced that its search and rescue team has recovered the three missing bodies and founded reasons for the accident.
It added that investigation revealed that the boat was not registered adding that it was overloaded plus the rainy weather on the day of the accident hence the engine malfunctioned midstream and the boat capsized.
The statement further read: “Report from our Area Manager in Calabar Engineer Stanley Onouha, revealed that the Passport 19 Pleasure boat carrying 14 final year medical students capsized in Calabar waterways.
“The Final year students were in Calabar for their annual conference.
“However, 11 persons were rescued by the combined efforts of the Nigerian Navy (NNS Victory), community boat operators and NIWA rescue team.
“The three missing dead bodies were recovered at the early hours of today. Two from Ahamadu Bello University Zaria and one from University of Uyo.”
Recall there was also a boat accident two weeks that claimed over 100 lives at Kpada community in Pategi Local Government Area of Kwara State.