At least six passengers have been confirmed dead while four others were rescued following a boat mishap along the Nigerdock axis of the Igbologun water channel in Lagos State.
The incident occurred late Tuesday evening at about 8:35 p.m. and involved a Savvy Marine passenger boat. Rescue operations were still ongoing at the time of filing this report to locate other missing passengers.
The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) confirmed the incident in a joint statement signed by NIWA’s Head of Public Affairs, Wuraola Alake, and LASWA’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Omowunmi Yussuff.
According to the statement, the boat was en route from Ilashe Beach House when the accident occurred. Upon receiving a distress call, both agencies immediately activated their Search and Rescue (SAR) teams, which worked alongside the Marine Police and other emergency responders.
“As of the time of this report, four passengers have been successfully rescued and taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment,” the statement said. “Sadly, six other passengers were recovered dead at the scene, while search and rescue operations are still ongoing to account for all those involved.”
Preliminary findings suggest the mishap may have been caused by a collision with a submerged object, although investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause.
LASWA and NIWA assured the public that a thorough investigation would be conducted and that updates would be provided as more information becomes available. The agencies also expressed their condolences to the families of the deceased and reaffirmed their commitment to safety on Lagos inland waterways.
The authorities reiterated the need for strict adherence to safety regulations, including compliance with the “no night travel” rule, and urged the public to rely only on verified information from official sources.
