The Director General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mustapha Habib Ahmed today Thuraday 22nd June 2023 led a team from the Agency to commiserate with the Government and people of Kwara State over the recent boat mishap that claimed more than 100 lives on River Niger along Patigi Local Government Area of the State.
The team comprised of the Director Relief and Rehabilitation Alh Alhassan Nuhu, Special Assistant to the DG Mr Idris Abubakar Mohammed, Head of NEMA Minna Operations Office Hajiya Zainab Suleiman and some support staff. They were received by the Deputy Governor of the State Mr Kayode Alabi on behalf of Governor Abdulrazaq.
In his remarks, the DG NEMA Mustapha Habib Ahmed said he was also in the state with some relief items approved for distribution to victims of the boat mishap and families of those that lost their lives in the unfortunate incident.
He commiserated with the State Government and the people of Kwara, especially families of those that lost their lives and people who were rescued from the incident.
The DG NEMA said the Federal Government was concerned about the plights of those affected by the incident, which prompted his condolence visit and to also deliver the relief items.
Furthermore, he said that the relief items were delivered to complement the efforts of the State Government towards providing succour to the victims.
He commended the efforts of corporate organizations and other individuals for their support to the victims.
He emphasized the imperative for adherence to safety measures on waterways, especially by boat users to prevent frequent occurrence of mishap and avoid unnecessary loss of lives and property. He also appealed to relevant authorities responsible for safety on waterways to put measures in place to forestall reoccurrence of the incident.
The Director General NEMA, Mustapha Habib Ahmed presented the list of the approved relief items to the Deputy Governor. He later proceeded to the warehouse and inspected the items, where in an interview with the press, he explained that the materials would be distributed to the deceased families and the survival.
The Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Mr Kayode Alabi appreciated the Federal Government, particularly NEMA for the gesture.
The items distributed include 1000 bags of rice, 1000 bags of maize, 1000 bags of beans and 50 kegs of vegetable oil among other.
At least 106 persons, mostly from Patigi communities were drowned after a boat ferrying them capsized on the River Niger.
The incident occurred at the early hours of Tuesday June 13 as they were returning to Ebbu village after a wedding ceremony at Gboti community.
22nd June 2023
