By Tony Agbugba
A few weeks ago I boarded a boat from the Majidun area of Ikorodu en route to Lekki Phase 1. It was the first time I would be boarding a boat from Ikorodu to the Island. On a good day, I would have opted for a car ride, but I had an urgent appointment to catch and time was running out.
The journey which should ordinarily last not more than 30 minutes lasted over an hour. It was more like a nightmare. It was a bumpy ride that almost crushed all the bones in my body. Frightened Passengers spent most of their time praying in tongues in their various denominations and religions, seeking divine intervention.
“Yee! My village people have finally caught up with me, oh God, help me,” cried a middle-aged woman.
“Oh, I am dead. I know God is punishing me for my sins. Oh God, please spare me, I promise not to sim again” a young lady could be heard crying in a loud voice. It was a cacophony of prayers.
In all of this, I sat still, hot sweat cascading down my face. I looked at the vastness of the lagoon, undulating as we galloped along. It made me appreciate better the greatness of the Almighty.
The boat’s coughing engine stopped abruptly about five times in the middle of the lagoon, leaving us at the mercy of the elements. At each stop, it took close to five minutes before the driver could fix the boat once again. During each of these five minutes of uncertainty, time stood still for me.
Though all the passengers (about 15 in number) wore life jackets, it was not funny as the ocean waves lashed mercilessly on the side of the boat all through the journey. We were truly at the mercy of the elements. I will not be in a hurry to take another such ride. A few days later about three accidents were recorded along that same route with massive casualties.
Boat accidents in this part of our clime are a regular occurrence, unfortunately. The relevant authorities overseeing our waterways across the country have a lot of work to do to ensure better precautionary measures. They need to set and ensure the adherence to strict rules for the boat operators. Are the drivers technically qualified? Do they have divers on board during every trip? What is the condition of the commercial boats? Do they have proper life jackets?
Registered guards/divers should be regularly engaged to parade our shores to safeguard the lives of innocent passengers.
Night trips on the waterways should be discontinued as visibility would be greatly obscured. There should also be strict adherence to a moderate speed limit. The recent video showing Jn Pope begging the boat driver to reduce his speed shows that such untimely deaths can be averted.
Last Sunday I was sharing my chilly experience at the lagoon with a group of people and the need for regular users of our waterways everyone to be more cautious. Little did I know something uncanny would happen this week!
May the souls of all those who lost their lives in the boat mishap Rest In Peace.