The House of Representatives has urged the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to set standards for boat construction, license boat builders, and conduct annual inspections to ensure seaworthiness.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Joshua Gana (PDP-Niger) on the floor of the House in Abuja on Tuesday.

Presenting the motion, Mr Gana said at least 80 bodies had been recovered, with 74 dead, six alive and 200 still missing in the boat accident that occurred on October 2 in River Niger.

He noted that the victims were mostly women and children on board a wooden vessel that capsized in Mokwa.

The lawmaker said the boat was locally made, with a capacity for 100 passengers, adding that it carried at least 300 people when it overturned.

Mr Gana said this would be the second of such a major disaster in Niger, as more than 100 people were killed in another boat accident 18 months ago.

He said most boat disasters in Nigeria in recent years have increasingly pointed to regulatory failures and are often attributed to overloading and poorly maintained boats.

Adopting the motion, the House urged NIWA to begin enforcement and establish training centres across the country to educate boat operators.

The House also urged the Nigerian Navy to be in charge of policing waterways and that Coastal Guard on Nigerian waters, coastal and international waters should set up a command in the River Niger axis of the state.

The House also urged HYPERDEC and NIWA to ensure the procurement of life jackets and floaters for all water passengers.

The lawmakers urged National Emergency Management Agency to give humanitarian aid and relief materials to the bereaved families in Niger and Kwara states.

The House mandated the committees on Inland Waterways and Legislative Compliance to ensure the implementation of the resolutions.

(NAN)