The Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association of Nigeria Waters (WABOTAN), has expressed sadness over reports of a boat mishap, which occurred at the Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, in which over 100 people lost their lives.
The National President, WABOTAN ,Comrade Babatope Fajemirokun in a statement noted that the members are deeply saddened by the reports of a boat mishap.
According to the statement signed by Chief Raymond Gold Onoriobe , National Public Relations Officer , WABOTAN , the President commiserated with families affected, adding that “Our hearts go out to the affected families, the government and good people of Kwara State over this painful incident.
“As stakeholders in the water transport sector in Nigeria, we have been committed to playing our role in the needed efforts to transform the water transport sector and the strict adherence to safety and security measures to forestall such mishaps.
“This has formed part of our core objectives which is, training and retraining of boat captains and deck hands, to build capacity and ensure safety and security on our waterways.
“This training, which we usually do in collaboration and partnership with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, has contributed to Lagos State recording immense improvement on safety on her waterways.
“Our next capacity building and safety training program comes up this November in Lagos and we are making efforts to extend this training to Kwara State and other States across the country where water transportation has been embraced as a means of moving people and goods from one place to another.
“Once again, our heart felt condolences to the affected families.”
