The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, has expressed sadness over the reports of a boat mishap in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, with some 60 persons reported dead.
The forum, in a statement issued on Saturday by the chairman, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, expressed its deepest condolences to the people and government of Niger State, and commended the rescue operations immediately mounted by the administration of Governor Umar Bago.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost relatives to the tragedy.
“We wish those who survived but are in critical conditions safe recovery,” the Forum said in the statement.
“As we again mourn the victims of this accident, we restate our concern at the rising incidents of boat mishaps whose causes include overcrowding, old boats, or night travel.
“These incidents are avoidable if everyone plays by the rule and respects the sanctity of the human life,” the statement added.
The forum similarly called for strict adherence to the use of life jackets during water travel, especially that Federal and State Governments have repeatedly donated life jackets to save lives.
