The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Lugard has identified the primary cause of the recent boat tragedy in Kogi State, which resulted in the loss of numerous lives, as a violation of safety protocols in the waterways.

Commodore Tamuno Senibo, the Commander of NNS Lugard Lokoja, shared this information during a free medical outreach event in Kungbani, located in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.

He explained, “Overloading is a significant issue in our waterways. A boat designed to carry 15 passengers is often overloaded with up to 50. Worse still, many of these passengers do not wear life jackets, which are essential for safety on the water.”

Senibo emphasized that the failure to follow safety regulations was the primary cause of the deadly boat accident in Kogi.

He urged relevant authorities to enforce the use of life jackets and other safety measures on the waterways. “We are not just advising; the Nigerian Navy Ship is leading the effort to enforce the use of safety jackets and more on our waterways. With the support of all stakeholders, I am confident we can raise awareness about the importance of safety protocols.”

On the free medical outreach, Commodore Senibo explained that it was part of the Navy’s non-kinetic initiatives aimed at enhancing security in Kogi State. He said, “Winning the support of the community is essential to our security efforts. It’s not just about carrying weapons; building the support of the populace is key to achieving our goals.”

He further noted, “We are not calling it corporate social responsibility, but we aim to give back to the community with what we have. We want to be seen as partners in ensuring the safety and security of our environment.”

Senibo added that the Chief of Naval Staff had provided strategic direction for the medical outreach, following previous educational outreach programs and other community-based interventions. He reiterated that NNS Lugard would continue to collaborate with other security agencies to maintain peace and security in Kogi State.