President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to investigate the rise in boat accidents across the country.
The order follows the boat mishap of October 1, where a boat carrying more than 200 passengers to Gbajibo for the Mawlid celebration, capsized in Mokwa LGA of Niger state.
The boat was returning to Gbajibo from Mundi after the annual Maulud celebration when disaster struck, Muregi said in a statement on Wednesday.
“President Tinubu commiserates with the families of the victims and prays for the repose of the souls of the dead,” the statement added.
He praised the efforts of emergency workers and local divers involved in the recovery operations.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Ibrahim Hussaini, spokesperson for NSEMA, announced that the death toll from the incident had risen to 36.
The agency had recovered 19 bodies from the river on Wednesday, including both men and women.
“36 dead bodies recovered so far as at 6pm this evening,” Hussaini told TheCable.
