By Dare Akogun
Seventeen bodies have been recovered from the Lagos lagoon following the boat accident that occurred last week.
The accident, which occurred on Friday July 8, 2022 by 7.30pm, involved a W19 passenger boat, which capsized on its way to Ibeshe from the Mile 2 terminal.
According to an update from the Coordinator, Lagos State Territorial District of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, who in a statement confirmed the number of bodies that had been recovered, search and rescue operations were still ongoing.
Farinloye, who declared that wooden boats were not permitted to be used as passenger boat, added that plying the waterways at odd hours always put the lives of unsuspecting passengers at risk.
Reacting to the accident, the Lagos State government vowed it would be enforcing safety measures and go after boat operators using sub-standard boats
This is according to a statement issued on Saturday July 9, 2022 and signed by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs, of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Bolanle Ogunlola.
The statement, which quoted the General Manager, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mr. Damilola Emmanuel, condoled with the families of victims who lost their lives in the recent boat mishaps in the state.
The latest boat mishap came barely two days after a 20-passenger ferry boat capsized in Lagos at 7:45am on Wednesday, July 6, 2022.
