The Emir of Gummi, Retired Justice Lawal Hassan, has appealed to the Zamfara State Government to collaborate with the National Inland Waterways Authority, (NIWA), for the acquisition of modern boats that have the capacity of ferry 50 to 100 passengers at a time.
The revered monarch made the request when the State’s Deputy Governor, Mani Mummuni, paid a condolence visit to the families of the victims of the bus that plunged into Gwalli River, as well as the families of those who lost their lives in a boat mishap, at Birnin Magaji village, in Gummi Local Government Area of the State.
Emir Hassan told the delegation that one of the ways to lessen the constant occurrence of boat mishaps is for the government to procure modern boats, as the ones being used are old.
The Deputy Governor who led the State government’s team under the Assessment and Support for Victims of Banditry and Natural Disaster Committee, first condoled with families of the 19 wedding guests who died in the bus accident at the Gwalli River, last Saturday.
The Gwalli bridge, according to locals collapsed over 6 years ago, and had remained unfixed, though the Governor Dauda Lawal administration had reportedly promised to reconstruct it when the rainy season is over.
Sources told ait.live that a team of Engineers had already gone to inspect the site before the fatal bus accident at the River.
The delegation thereafter proceeded to pay a similar condolence visit to the families of the victims of a boat mishap at Birnin Magaji village, where about 21 people equally lost their lives.
The Zamfara State Deputy Governor, Mani Mummuni, who chairs the Committee, assured the people that the State government is poised to do everything, to ensure the safety of residents.
He announced a N500,00 award to each of the families of victims of the boat mishap.
The Deputy Governor also informed the people that the State government will deploy additional troops with Armoured Personnel Carriers, (APCs), to protect them against the bandits, and restore peace, for economic activities to boom in the area.
