The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Minna operations office, on Tuesday, engaged stakeholders on measures to curb the incessant boat mishaps in Niger.

Hussaini Isah, head of the NEMA Minna Operations Office, said the aim was to share expertise, experiences, and valuable insights on boat mishap prevention and response strategies.

Mr Isah reiterated the significance of effective preparedness, enforcement, and response strategies in mitigating the impact of boat mishaps on lives, livelihoods, communities, and infrastructure.

“Boat mishaps and other hydrological hazards have posed a significant threat to Nigeria’s economic, social, and environmental well-being,” he said.

Mr Isah stressed that relevant agencies must tackle key areas, including causes of boat accidents, enhanced search and rescue operations, sensitisation campaigns, and enforcement of the use of life jackets.

He urged the state and local governments to support community leaders in finding a lasting solution to frequent boat mishaps on waterways.

Mr Isah commended the participants, speakers, and partners for their contributions, highlighting their expertise and commitment to disaster risk reduction and community resilience.

“Let us work together to build a more resilient Nigeria, where communities are better informed, better prepared, and better equipped to withstand and recover from any form of emergency or boat mishap incident,” he said.

Also speaking, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, director-general of NSEMA, said stakeholders had identified underwater tree stumps and inadequate distribution of life jackets as major causes of boat mishaps in the state.

Mr Baba-Arah, represented by Garba Salihu, the director of relief and rehabilitation at NSEMA, said life jackets had yet to reach the intended users, adding that they should be given directly to boat operators.

He also emphasised the need for stakeholders and partners with resources to cut underwater tree stumps during the dry season when rivers are dry, saying it would help reduce the risk of boat accidents.

The meeting brought together representatives from various agencies, including NEMA, NIWA, NSEMA, and the state’s ministries of transport and humanitarian affairs.

Others are NSCDC, Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Orientation Agency (NOA), Sarkin Ruwa, and Sarkin Gwata from Shiroro Local Government, among others.

(NAN)