The Federal Government says it will, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), provide support to families of victims and survivors of the Borgu boat mishap in Niger State.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, said this in a statement he personally signed on Friday in Abuja.
Starreporters recalls that the mishap, which occurred on Tuesday in Borgu Local Government Area, claimed 32 lives while about 50 people were rescued.
Idris described the incident as painful, coming barely four months after floods devastated Mokwa, also in Niger.
“We extend our deepest condolences to families of the victims, government, and the people of Niger State. The Federal Government, through NEMA, will work closely with the state government to ensure prompt relief and assistance,” he said.
The minister commended the Niger State Government and its emergency agency for their swift rescue operations and urged Nigerians to always prioritise safety on inland waterways.
He said no one should embark on boat journeys without life jackets, noting that adherence to safety precautions could make the difference between life and death.
Idris added that the National Orientation Agency (NOA) had been directed to mount a nationwide sensitisation campaign on waterway safety.
(NAN)