Atiku Mourns 29 Victims of Niger Boat Mishap, Calls for Safer Waterways
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed deep grief over the death of 29 people in a boat accident in Niger State, describing the tragedy as another painful reminder of the urgent need to improve safety standards on Nigeria’s waterways.
The mishap occurred on Tuesday in Gausawa community of Borgu Local Government Area when a wooden boat carrying about 90 passengers capsized after colliding with a tree stump. Rescue officials confirmed that 29 bodies had been recovered, 50 passengers were rescued, while two others remained missing. Most of the victims were women and children.
Reacting to the incident in a message posted on X on Thursday, Atiku said the accident underscored the dangers faced daily by riverine communities that depend on water transport.
He urged the authorities to enforce stricter measures to prevent such disasters.
“This is a painful reminder of the urgent need to strengthen safety in our waterways,” he wrote. “Overloading must be discouraged, capacities strictly adhered to, and the provision of life jackets made compulsory.
The cost of safety is far cheaper than the cost of lives cut short in preventable tragedies.”
The former Vice President extended his condolences to the bereaved families, the Gausawa community, and the government and people of Niger State. He prayed for comfort and peace for those affected.
Boat accidents are a recurring hazard in Niger State and other parts of Nigeria, often linked to poor regulation, overloading, unsafe night travel, and lack of life jackets. Similar accidents in Shiroro and other communities earlier this year claimed dozens of lives, raising concerns over weak enforcement of safety protocols.
For many rural Nigerians, boats remain the only means of transportation, yet safety enforcement remains lax.
Atiku’s call has once again drawn national attention to the need for decisive government action to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further tragedies on the country’s waterways.
