A commercial ferry
with 28 passengers aboard yesterday capsized few metres away from Origin
Jetty where it took off, killing at least one passenger while 27 others
survived the accident.
The commercial
boat, HMS I, took off at about 9.55a.m. from Ebute in Ikorodu to Addax
Jetty in Victoria Island was overloaded, although that was not the only
cause of the mishap.
A government source
at the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) disclosed that
the ferry had 28 passengers aboard contrary to the prescribed 21
passengers the ferry was said to have carried.
He added that the
ferry "did not have any mechanical or electrical challenges until it
collided with logs of wood. As a result, it became uncontrollable and
eventually overturned and a life was lost."
He explained that
there would have been more casualties if not because rescue operatives
from the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Nigeria Inland
Waterways Authority (NIWA), LASEMA Emergency Response Team, LASAMBUS and
Nigeria Police responded promptly.
Speaking on the
mishap, LASEMA's General Manager, Mr. Michael Akindele urged ferry
operators "to avoid over speeding and to always comply with safety
regulations on the waterways to avoid loss of lives or avoidable
accidents."
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