NEMA CONFIRMS 30 DEAD, 58 RESCUED IN NIGER STATE BOAT MISHAP
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that 30 people lost their lives in the tragic boat accident that occurred on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, in the Gausawa community, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the agency’s Head of Press Unit, Manzo Ezekiel, 58 passengers were rescued, while one additional body was recovered during ongoing search and rescue efforts. The ill-fated boat was carrying about 90 passengers when it capsized.
Witnesses said the mishap was caused by overloading, worsened by a collision with a tree stump along the water channel. Several passengers remain unaccounted for as rescue operations continue.
NEMA disclosed that its Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has directed the Minna Operations Office to intensify rescue efforts in collaboration with the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, National Inland Waterways Authority, Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, Nigerian Red Cross Society, local divers, and community volunteers.
Boat accidents remain a recurring tragedy in Nigeria, particularly in riverine communities where water transport is a lifeline. Many of these incidents are linked to overloading, use of substandard vessels, inadequate life-saving equipment, and weak enforcement of safety regulations.
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