Boat mishap in Anambra claims 4 lives,1 Missing--as PPA Candidate Ezeemo, visits victims, House of Assembly asks for investigation

www.odogwublog.com reports that four persons yesterday died when the boat they were travelling in capsized on the River Niger axis of  Ugwuikpele Community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra state.

As at the time of filing this report, 10 others have been rescued while it was said that One person was still missing as rescue team were already deployed to the River Niger to rescue them.


As a result, the candidate of the Progressive People's Alliance (PPA), Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, visited the community yesterday to commiserate with them over the unfortunate incident.

They were part of fifteen passengers and crew members that started the journey from Ugwuikpele towards Nkwo Anieze market in Rivers State in the ill fated mishap which took place on August 26.

The incident happened at Age Azaga, a boarder community town in Rivers State.

Ezeemo told the community that he would bring to life practical policies to entrench lasting safety measures in all transport system in the state.

Ezeemo commiserated with the victims and assured them that he would be proactive in transportation policies, if elected into office.

He said that lack of genuine desire to serve the people by some politicians gunning to man the affairs of the state was evident in their care free attitudes towards maintaining life safety tips, which according to him, resulted to repeated loss of lives of the helpless citizens.

He said that the recent water transport mishap at Age Azaga, a boarder community with Rivers State avoidable but due to negligence, it claimed innocent lives.

Ezeemo commiserated with the family of the victims of boat mishap , while assuring that if he won the November 18 election that his administration would tackle issues bordering on lives of the people before concentrating on physical structures in the state.

Ezeemo bemoaned the state of waterways in the State which he said made those who lived in the riverine areas to use water means of transportation more vulnerable to mishaps.

According to the PPA candidate, “The resources we have are more than enough to provide the basics we need as a state, if we are sincere with the way we manage our resources as a government and as a people”.

Narrating his ordeal the driver of the boat, Mr. Charles Ezeka, said the incident happened around six o'clock in the morning of that day, shortly after they entered the community of Age Azaga.

He said the boat suddenly hit a hidden tree stump and capsized, trapping most of the occupants in the water.

He said it took the spirited efforts and intervention of other boatmen to save most of them.
Meanwhile, the State House of Assembly has urged the Executive Arm of Government to direct the Commissioner for Road, Rail ways and Water Transportation to investigate last Saturday’s Boat mishap that occurred at Ogwu-Ikpele axis of the River Niger which claimed lives.
The House passed the resolution following a motion which emanated as a matter of urgent public importance sponsored by the member representing Ogbaru Two Constituency, Sir Somtochukwu Udeze during yesterday’s plenary.
Moving the motion, Sir Somtochukwu commiserated with the family of those who lost their beloved ones to the ugly incident.
Sir Somtochukwu, who regretted that the dead bodies of the victims of the ugly incident have not been found since last Saturday, appealed to the Ministry of Road, Railway and Water Transport to assist in recovering the corpses.
In their contributions, the Majority Leader, Chief Victor Okoye and the Chief Whip, Chief Lawrence Ezeudu, who stressed the need for those who use water transportation to always wear life jackets called on the appropriate Ministry and Agencies to enforce the law on water transportation.
The Member representing Njikoka One Constituency, Dr Timoty Ifedioramma and his Ayamelum counterpart, Mr Uchenna Okafor, described the incident as most unfortunate and called for investigation of the cause of the incident.
The Deputy Speaker Sir Hafford Oseke, who presided over the plenary read out the resolution of the House.
Meanwhile, the House of Assembly Committee on Health holds a public hearing on Sickle Cell Diseases Control and Eradication Repeal Bill today at the House of Assembly complex, Awka, starting by ten o’clock in the morning.