Kano state government has announced a ban on the use of commercial boats in ferrying passengers in Bagwai-Badau River in Bagwai local government of the state.
The order followed the boat mishap on Tuesday, which claimed 29 lives in Badau village of the local government area.
In a statement, the state commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba said in the interim, government has provided two buses for passenger shuttle between Badau and Bagwai.
According to him, three new boats would be procured for effective water transportation in the area.
He said other control measures are expected to be instituted when the investigation committee set up by the state government submitted its report for implementation.
Recall that the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje had stated that ” So far, based on the information we received, as at this morning of Wednesday, there were 20 deaths, 7 in hospital and another 8 people were found this morning and the rescue operation is still going on. We salute the courage and patriot posture of the rescue teams,” he noted.
The governor lamented that “We learned that the boat started from Hayin Badau to Bagwai on their way to attend Maulud celebration, as the boat was ferrying about 50 people with some loads, which capsized because of overload. And most of them were Islamiyyah students.”
“While we pray to Allah to Forgive and Bless the souls of those who died and pray for a quick recovery of those who are in the hospital receiving medical attention, I urge boats operators to always take the issue of overload very seriously.
“They should know that they can still get profit without overloading their boats,” he urged.
Governor Ganduje lamented that, that was the same axis when there was serious mishap some years back, warning that, “People should know that the lives of all fellow human beings are too important to be risked deliberately.”
