Six dead, four rescued as passenger boat capsizes in Lagos waterway

By Ade Ade

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.

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 press time to locate other possible victims.

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 Unit, Wuraola Alake, and LASWA’s Head of Corporate Affairs Unit, Omowunmi Yussuff.

According to the statement, the boat was en route from Ilashe Beach House when the accident occurred. Upon receiving a distress alert, both agencies immediately activated their Search and Rescue (SAR) teams, working in close collaboration with 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, where they are currently receiving medical attention. Sadly, six other passengers were recovered dead at the scene, while search and rescue operations remain ongoing to account for all persons involved,” the statement said.

Preliminary findings indicated that the mishap may have been caused by a collision with a submerged object, although investigations are still ongoing to fully determine the cause.

LASWA and NIWA expressed their deepest condolences to the families of the victims, reaffirmed their commitment to safety on Lagos inland waterways, and urged strict adherence to safety regulations, including proper navigation practices and the “no night travel” rule.

The public was also advised to remain calm and rely only on verified information from official sources.