Fifteen passengers were said to have been rescued during the incident which happened around 6:50pm on Wednesday.

The spokesperson for the Lagos State Waterways Authority, Wuraola Alake, in a statement noted that the ferry which had 17 passengers on board collided with a submerged shoreline concrete at a construction site around the power line corridor at the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge.

Alake, who confirmed the casualty said one person was declared missing.

The statement read, “At about 6.50pm today Wednesday 21, 2024, an Ibeshe bound passenger ferry named T-Ben, having departed from Addax jetty, had a collision with a submerged shoreline concrete at a construction site around the power line corridor at the Lekki Ikoyi Link Bridge.

15 out of the 17 passengers said to be on board this boat have been rescued with one casualty confirmed, while rescue effort is still ongoing as at the time of issuing this statement.”

Alake further disclosed that officers from the Search and Rescue Unit of the agency and other volunteers were still carrying out further rescue operations.

This was disclosed in a joint statement issued by the Director-General of the Lagos Safety Commission, Mr Lanre Mojola, and the General Manager, Lagos State Waterways Authority, Mr Damilola Emmanuel

The statement also advised boat operators to adequately fuel their vessel tanks for their journeys, adding that fueling mid-sea was an unsafe practice.

It read partly, “In line with the waterways’ safety code developed by all waterway’s regulators and stakeholders, boat transport, activities are to take place between 5:30 am and 7.00 pm every day. It is an offense for boat operators and passengers to be seen on inland waterways outside of these hours.

“Therefore, all waterways’ users are advised to strictly observe this time restriction in order to avoid boat mishaps. On no condition should anyone get on board a vessel after or before the stipulated operational hours likewise no passenger or operator can board a vessel without wearing a life vest with a standard buoyancy factor.

“This is very important because, in event of an accident, the user will be able to stay afloat for a few minutes before emergency responders arrive. In addition to using appropriate Personal Protective Equipment, boat operators are mandated to have onboard safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, first aid boxes, pool float (life buoys), and so on.”

The General Manager of LASWA, Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, stated that the inauguration of the boat was an initiative to further add to the integrated system of emergency and rescue.

He said, “We have been gradually building this, and we have also seen how the safety on the waterways keeps improving every year.

“What we are currently planning to do is to have our own core emergency and response boats along with the Jet Ski and the soon-to-be-launched control room.”

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mr Olusegun Ogboye, stated at the event that the boat would mainly deal with emergencies on water and also provide outreach services to riverine communities.

He said, “The Ministry of Health will also provide human resources and consumables for health care provision. The state plans to acquire additional boats to ensure that the service runs well and meets the needs of the people of Lagos State.”