Kano Government Bans Water Transportation In Bagwai After Boat Mishap Claimed 29 Lives

Kano State Government has banned commercial boat ferrying of passengers and provided two buses to transport passengers between Badau and Bagwai in Bagwai local government of the state.

This followed the boat accident that claimed the lives of about 29 passengers, in Badau village of the local government area.

Responding to the tragedy, Kano State commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba said in the interim, the government has provided two buses to shuttle passengers and promised the procurement of three new boats for effective water transportation in the area.

The statement said other control measures are expected to be instituted when the investigation committee set up by the state government submit its report for implementation.

Meanwhile, the state Executive Council has described as unfortunate the boat mishap that happened on Badau-Bagwai River in Bagwai local government of the state and approved the constitution of a committee to investigate the incident.

The state commissioner for information, Malam Muhammad Garba, who briefed newsmen after an emergency meeting of the council held at the Africa House, Government House, Kano, said the ill-fated incident, which happened on Tuesday, resulted in the death of 29 people among them men, women and children.

He said while seven other victims are responding to treatment at Bichi General Hospital, the search for 14 other victims of the tragic boat mishap on the Bagwai-Badau River has been intensified.

Malam Garba also announced that the council has approved measures to support the bereaved families of the victims and provided relief materials that included 120 bags each of rice, maize, corn; 60 bags each of sugar and salt as well as cash support of N6, 000, 000.00 million at N100, 000.00 per head.

The Commissioner also announced the council's approval for the formation of an immediate investigation committee on the accident and to advise the government on how to avert future occurrences.

The committee is to be chaired by the state Naval Commander, Navy Captain Muhammad Abubakar Alhassan.

The chairman, Policy, Strategy, Implementation, and Evaluation Directorate, Alhaji Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi; Commissioners for commerce, transport and housing, Information, religious affairs, representative of the Commissioner of works and infrastructure, representatives of the commissioner for local government, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Bichi Emirate, the DSS, police, National Security and Civil Defence Corps, are to serve as members, while a representative from the Cabinet Office will serve as secretary.