On Monday afternoon, January 15, 2024, a boating tragedy occurred in north-central Nigeria as a vessel transporting people from Borgu district in Niger state to a market across the border in Kebbi state overturned in the Niger River.
The accident claimed the lives of eight people and left an estimated 100 missing.
Ibrahim Audu, a spokesperson for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed the boat’s overcapacity as a key factor in the accident.
The boat, which had a maximum capacity of 100 passengers, was carrying an excessively higher number of people, including bags of grain.
This severe overloading and strong winds resulted in the boat’s inability to remain stable, ultimately leading to its capsizing.
The rescue-recovery effort has been primarily community-based, with local villagers collaborating with divers and emergency officials in a desperate search for the missing passengers. Despite the concerted efforts, the fate of many remains uncertain, and the number of survivors is yet to be determined.
This calamity is part of a disturbing trend of boat accidents in Nigeria. Such incidents have become increasingly common, especially in remote areas where locals rely on waterways to transport goods to markets.
The lack of well-maintained roads and viable transportation alternatives forces many to depend on overcrowded and often poorly maintained boats for their livelihood.
Despite numerous similar accidents in the past, there is no comprehensive record of the death toll. Reports indicate that there have been at least five major incidents involving 100 or more passengers in just the last seven months.
These accidents are typically attributed to overloading, poor conditions of the boats, and navigational challenges on the water.
