Apparently grieved over the unfortunate and avoidable deaths of three women in a boat mishap on Monday, April 8, 2024, Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State Anengi Claude-Wilcox has suspended the leadership of all boat unions in the area with immediate effect.

A statement by her Press Secretary, Boma Waribor, on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 disclosed that the visibly piqued Chairman, who paid an unscheduled visit to the office of the Bonny Marine Transport Association (BMTA), supervised the disposal of worn-out life vests.

She also retrieved hoarded life vests which were donated by well-meaning individuals and organizations including the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) from the residence of an unnamed official of one of the boat unions and ordered that they are instantly made available for passenger use.

She instantly directed that all 12 seater passenger speedboats with outboard engines remain banned until further notice.

She further declared that her administration will set up interim management committees for the different routes being utilized by passengers.   

Speaking during a visit to the affected families, Claude-Wilcox said reports on her desk indicate that the boat pilot was drunk and attempted to overtake another boat on high sea and got caught up in the double waves which overturned his own boat, leading to the deaths of three women.  

“The Executive Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Dame Hon Anengi Barasua Claude-Wilcox, DSSRS, JP., has condoled with families of fatality victims and survivors of the boat mishap that occurred yesterday along the Bonny waterways, describing the incident as unfortunate and avoidable.

“The Council Boss, who spoke today in Bonny during a sympathy visit to the families of the deceased and other survivors of the incident, noted that reports on her desk indicates that the boat pilot who was testified to be drunk attempted to overtake another boat on the high-sea but was caught up by the currents of the double wave which unfortunately overturned the 11 passenger boat leading to the ill-fated incident.”

“She consoled the survivors, promising that government would cater for all medical bills and stand through with them, while assuring families of fatality victims that they would not be left alone in this trying season, declaring that all ends would be tightened to avert recurrence.”

According to the statement, the Bonny LG Chairman stated that the Interim Management Committee to be set up by her administration would oversee the boat operations until the identified pitfalls are fixed.

It added that the Interim Management Committee would also ensure the mental sanity of boat drivers and functionality of their engines before clearance for take-off.