BY EDMOND ODOK – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended his heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Kogi State over the tragic boat accident that claimed at least 26 lives in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
He described the incident as “shocking and unfortunate,” especially given that the victims were pursuing their legitimate means of livelihood.
The President’s message, conveyed by Bayo Onanuga, his Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, commended the efforts of first responders at the incident scene while urging federal, state, and local emergency services to intensify rescue and relief operations.
He also tasked Water transport operators to always prioritise safety over profit, warning that continued negligence poses unacceptable risks to the lives of Nigerian citizens.
Offering prayers for the souls of the departed and wishing the injured speedy recovery, President Tinubu reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to improved safety on the country’s waterways going forward.
Available reports indicated that the ill-fated boat was overloaded with traders and other passengers travelling from Onugwa community in Ibaji to the Ilushi market in neighbouring Edo State.
According to eyewitnesses’ account, the vessel reportedly capsized around 4:30pm, throwing its occupants into the raging River Niger waves.
Though information is still sketchy about how the tragic incident occurred, there are suggestions that the safety measures in place were inadequate as has been the case in recent cases of boat mishap.
One of the local sources, a farmer identified as James Otoga, said only five survivors have been accounted for so far, with over 20 bodies already recovered.
Highlighting the tragic scale of the incident that he described as “extremely distressing”, Otoga said, “Even those who came for a burial in Onugwa and were returning to Ilushi are still missing.”
Reacting to the mishap, Chairman of Ibaji Local Government Area, Ugeh Emmanuel, described the incident as the worst in the history of the area.
He said, “We cannot authoritatively confirm the total number of casualties at this time,” adding that efforts are ongoing to determine the number of passengers who were onboard.
Confirming that reports from the scene indicated no fewer than 26 lives were lost, the Kogi State Government, through Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, described the event as a “heartbreaking loss”.
Fanwo said the state is working with local authorities and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide immediate support to affected families.
He stated that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo also expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families and directed relevant agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident and improve safety protocols on inland waterways.
Fanwo quoted the Governor as saying, “This tragedy underscores the urgent need for stricter regulations and enforcement of safety measures, including the use of life jackets and prevention of overloading.
“The Government of Kogi State stands firmly with the people of Ibaji and will continue to support them through this difficult time.”
Meanwhile, amid the severity of the incident, no official statement from the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) is yet to issue an official statement at the time of this report.
The Authority’s silence has raised concerns about regulatory oversight and emergency responsiveness of relevant agencies in the country.
