Deputy Senate Leader, representing Kebbi South senatorial zone, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, has disclosed plans to provide two modern passenger boats to the people living around River Niger in Kebbi State.

This is following a report of the death of six traders and 12 persons missing after a boat mishap on River Niger of Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi South.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Dakingari, who confirmed the accident on Wednesday, said in a statement to the News Agency of Nigeria in Birnin Kebbi, said: “Two canoes were carrying more than 78 passengers, six persons have been confirmed dead while 12 are still missing and over 60 were rescued.”

He said Governor Atiku Bagudu of the state while on a condolence visit, had directed the traditional rulers, local government chairmen, Nigerian Inland Waterways’ officials and Marine Police to prohibit night travels by boats and canoes.

Senator Na’Allah, while speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Kaduna, promised to provide “two modern boats this year to the reverine communities of Shanga, Yauri and Ngaski LGAs and neighbouring villages in as part of our constituency intervention against these unfortunate accidents.”

According to him, four jetties have also been constructed at Gebe, Yauri, Kawara and Zamare all in Kebbi South Senatorial zone, as well as an ambulance boat has been provided to ease transportation challenges of the reverine communities in his constituency.

He also said the incessant boat mishap and loss of lives in the Yauri end of River Niger, called for urgent need for the Federal Government’s intervention.

Mr. Na’Allah said despite this disturbing development, which has become an annual unfortunate occurrence; nothing has been done to prevent future reoccurrence.

He condoled with the families, people of the zone and the state government for the loss and prayed for the quick

The incident on Wednesday happened following head-on collision of two canoes carrying traders and their goods on Tuesday at about 8:30 p.m. in Barikin Sakace in Shanga Local Government Area.

In September 2017, no fewer than 53 traders were reported dead in a boat mishap on River Niger in Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi.

The Nigerian Senate had called on the Federal Government to assist communities of Warra, a Riverine community in Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State, with modern 50-seater boats in order to alleviate the transportation disaster of the communities.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwerenmadu, who presided over Senate plenary, while reading the resolution of the Senate, last year, also called on the Federal Government to assist the communities in blasting the big stones and cutting the big stones and cutting the big trees in the River that hinder safe navigation around the area.

“Senate also resolved to urge the Ministry of Transport through the National Inland Waterways Authority to immediately conduct a survey into the stretch of River Niger in the area with a view to putting safe navigational aid in place. The Senate also urge the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist the communities with relief materials in order to cushion the effect of disaster,” Mr. Ekwerenmadu said.

Mr. Na’Allah, the sponsor of the motion, said despite the sacrifice, by same communities resettled by the then Northern regional Government in order to build the current Kainji Dam to provide electricity for the country, “the communities are without drinking water and electricity. Only plank canoe is used to transport people through the river.