ABUJA - The death toll after a boat capsized in the southern state of Anambra on Friday has risen to 76, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari confirmed on Sunday.
In a statement, Buhari acknowledged that rescue agencies had officially reported that a passenger boat carrying 85 people had capsized in the Ogbaru area of Anambra State on Friday, following rising floods in that area and expressed his grief.
An investigation had been launched to determine "other causes of the incident" besides floods, Thickman Tanimu, the southeast zonal coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema), was quoted as saying by local media.
Following the tragedy, Nigeria's National Inland Waterways Authority and the Nema have embarked on rescue and recovery missions in Anambra.
Buhari said he has directed other rescue and relief agencies to rush to the site, urging the relevant government agencies to check the safety protocols on local transport ferries to make sure such incidents can be avoided in the future. - BERNAMA
In a statement, Buhari acknowledged that rescue agencies had officially reported that a passenger boat carrying 85 people had capsized in the Ogbaru area of Anambra State on Friday, following rising floods in that area and expressed his grief.
An investigation had been launched to determine "other causes of the incident" besides floods, Thickman Tanimu, the southeast zonal coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema), was quoted as saying by local media.
Following the tragedy, Nigeria's National Inland Waterways Authority and the Nema have embarked on rescue and recovery missions in Anambra.
Buhari said he has directed other rescue and relief agencies to rush to the site, urging the relevant government agencies to check the safety protocols on local transport ferries to make sure such incidents can be avoided in the future. - BERNAMA