Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo has sympathised with victims of the recent boat mishap that claimed the lives of some passengers who are indigenes of Kogi State.
In a press statement issued by Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Ismaila Isah, the Governor expressed sadness over the boat accident saying he was particularly concerned that most of the victims were women, petty traders and artisans who were involved in legitimate business activities to earn a living and contribute to the economy of the state.
The Governor noted that the waterway linking Kogi and Niger state was becoming increasingly dangerous as a result of frequent boat accidents and called on relevant authorities to ensure that safety measures are put in place to minimize risks associated with water transportation in the country.
Ododo who commended the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) for its efforts in search and rescue operations, called for concerted efforts through inter-agency collaboration to prevent cases of waterways accidents and to enhance emergency response management.
He commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives and assured them that the government would support those injured in their recuperation.
NIWA had on Friday confirmed that some traders who were on their way to the Katcha weekly market in Niger State were killed while others sustained injuries when the boat conveying them from Kogi state capsized along the Dambo-Ebuchi sections of the River Niger.
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