By Hussaini Yero
Zamfara Government donated N20 million to the families of a boat accident at the Bakin Kasuwa river in the Uban Dawaki community, Gummi Local Government Area.
The Deputy Governor, Malam Mani Mummuni announced the donation during a sympathy visit to the Emir of Gummi, retired Justice Lawal Hassan and families of the victims.
Mummuni said the gesture was to cushion the hardship encountered by the victims families, added that Governor Lawal has directed that the amount be disbursed to the families of the affected incident .
The deputy governor assured of the state government’s commitment to prevent such from reoccurring, noted that the state government would be in touch with the management of Nigeria Inland Waterways to provide lifejackets to all the water transport stations in the state.
“Experts will also be deployed to sensitize operators as well as the users on prevention and safety measures, use of lifejacket would be made compulsory to every passenger and operators.
“Violators of this measures would be sanctioned accordingly, Mummun,”said.
In his remarks, Justice Hassan appreciated the state government’s gesture, adding that it was timely and the Idea of enforcing the use of lifejacket is very critical and advised the government not to spare anyone who failed to comply with the government’s directive.
The Emir said that 13 persons died while seven others were rescued in the boat accident, stressed that 20 persons not 40 were involved in the incident and seven of them survived.
The boat was said to have collided with a rock and capsized on Saturday, Sept. 14, while crossing some commuters in the community.
