By Bose Adelaja

Lagos has recorded some heart-breaking boat mishaps in recent time, especially in places like Festac Town, Apapa and Lagos Island. The most recent at the Majidun area of Ikorodu sent a 38-year-old shipping company executive, Isaac Akere, his wife and about six others to their untimely death.

Following the Ikorodu incident, the Lagos State government had set up an 11-man inter-ministerial committee to ascertain the immediate and remote cause(s) of the boat mishap which is yet to come up with a report.

Earlier tragic incidents had prompted the state government to take various steps in ensuring safety of lives on water. An example is the on-going campaign on the use of life jackets as well as deploying staff of the Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, to some jetties.

*MOURNING: Boat operators at Majidun Jetty, Ikorodu, suspended ferry services in honour of the victims of Wednesday’s boat mishap that claimed seven lives. INSET: Stranded passengers redirected to the Metro Jetty, Ikorodu. NAN PHOTOS.

This, according to the government, was to assist in regulating activities of water transport operators and as well minimise tragic occurrences on water.

Meanwhile, a check by Vanguard Metro revealed that boat mishap is presently on the increase across the various jetties on account of some boat operators paying little or no attention to safety of lives on water. Many of them have failed to improve on the business in spite of the periodic hike in fares, especially at peak periods, with the charges ranging between N300 and N800 per trip.

At various jetties like CMS, Marina, Ebute-Ero, Majidun, Victoria Island, Apapa, Lekki, Falomo, Ijede and Badore, to mention but a few, most life jackets used are usually sub-standard and dirty, apart from passengers having to endure the disrespect of shabbily dressed operators. There was also little or no noticeable presence of government officials at the jetties.

During VM’s visit to most jetties across the State, the situation was the same, as passengers bemoaned the  prevailing situation, saying officials of LASWA and National Inland Waterways who are expected to regulate such activities have been paying lip services to their responsibility.

A cross section of the passengers said some recent tragic incidents in the State have discouraged them from travelling on water. Others blame the incessant traffic snarls on most Lagos roads on why they still rely on water transport irrespective of the astronomical fares.

A hotelier, Mr. Sola Fatunmibi, said some of the boats usually develop fault while on water. “Many of the boats usually develop fault at the middle of the river; in most cases, we spend about 40 minutes on the sea while the captain looks for ways to repair the boat engine,’’ he said.

A trader in Apapa area, said the boats usually run out of fuel, thus putting passengers’ lives at a risk. “On several occasions, the boats ran out of fuel. Two weeks ago, our boat took of from Victoria Island around 6pm heading for Ikorodu. But to our shock, we ran out of fuel at the middle of the sea followed by a downpour. We were tossed about on the water until we found ourselves at Epe. Fortunately for us, some local fishermen came to our rescue and conveyed us back to Ikorodu in their canoes. This was around midnight.

A passenger, Mrs. Anikulapo Adeola, who usually board the boat at Ebute-ero identified over- loading as a major challenge in the area. ‘’Ordinarily, the boats are not supposed to carry more than 24 passengers, but some of them carry more than that and if one challenges them, they tell us to go and board BRT,’’ she informed.

Another passenger, Madam Toluwani Ijaodola, shared her recent experience with VM. ‘’I got to one of the jetties around 2pm and a boat belonging to a company (names withheld) was at the dock with the captain looking rather sober. On noticing this, I decided to find out what the problem was. This I learnt through one of his colleagues to ask him thus  in Yoruba: ‘Se eti ri ?’ (have you seen him ?).

I was later made to understand that he went out on test run in a boat around 6am of that day, heading for Falomo, when suddenly one of his boys, who did not wear a life jacket fell into the river,” she said. The body of the unfortunate lad was recovered about three days after.

‘’Some of the Captains are not conversant with the routes. Sometime in January this year, I boarded a boat from Victoria Island which missed its route and we found ourselves inside the bush.

Regulating the fares
Luckily, one of the passengers used his cell phone to connect the internet which gave us our bearing. Imagine what would have happened if such a learned person was not on board,’’ said Mr. Chukwuemeka Philips.

To madam Fehintola Adeagbo, government needs to regulate the fares being charged by the water transport companies. ‘’They charge exorbitant fares of between N300 and N600 which they later increased to N800 and above, especially during rush hours. I spend a minimum of N1,500 daily to transport myself,” she said.

A boat operator at Badore area who did not want his name in print, told VM that his company had never recorded a mishap because they usully appease the water goddess.

Contacted, LASWA Managing Director, Olayinka Marinho, did not respond to VM’s calls while his federal counterpart, Muazu J. Sambo, said: ‘’Madam, why are you calling me after closing hours (6pm)? Of course, you know the appropriate authority to channel your questions to’’.