The Cross River government will sanction officials of the Marina Resort found culpable of compromising safety standards over a cruise boat mishap.

This is contained in a statement issued by Governor Bassey Otu’s chief press secretary, Emmanuel Ogbeche, in Calabar.

A boat carrying 14 medical students capsized on Saturday at about 3:00 p.m. in the popular Marina Resort in Calabar.

Three students are still missing, while the Nigerian Navy and villagers rescued 11 others.

The students from different tertiary institutions under the aegis of the Nigeria Medical Students Association (NiMSA) were in Calabar for their Annual Health Week.

They visited the Marina Resort as part of their social activities.

“The government is saddened over this incident. We charge security and rescue agencies as well as villagers involved in the operations to find the missing students and reunite them with their families,” Mr Otu said.

He decried the safety standards at the resort, vowing that anyone found guilty of having compromised on safety would be severely sanctioned.

”The news of a cruise boat mishap at the Marina Resort, a tourist and relaxation destination in Calabar, is saddening and calls for concern to me, not only as your governor but as a parent,” explained the governor. “To imagine that the boat was overcrowded and some of those on it were without life jackets is of even greater concern and the more reason why the state government will be investigating the incident.”

Mr Otu added, “All those found culpable of having compromised on safety standards will face the wrath of the law. As a government, we remain committed to protecting lives and providing an enabling environment for business and tourism.”

According to him, any untoward action that derails the state’s objective will not be tolerated.

He lauded the personnel of the Nigerian Navy and villagers who responded swiftly to rescue 11 of the 14 passengers on the boat and expressed joy that all but one of the rescued students were out of the hospital.

(NAN)