Minister of State (Works) Muhammad Bello Goronyo has described the tragic boat accident in Sokoto as a wakeup call for both the Federal and State governments to invest more in waterways safety.
“The tragedy is a wake-up call for us to do more in ensuring the safety of our people. Through collaboration, we can strengthen community resilience and safeguard lives,” Goronyo said.
He spoke during a visit to National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Director General Hajia Zubaida Umar to commiserate with her on the boat accident in which no fewer than 50 people died.
The minister announced the donation of N2 million to the bereaved families and promised to provide a speedboat to enhance safer water transportation within the community. According to him, these measures alongside interventions from both federal and state governments will not only ease the burden on affected families but also help prevent future accidents.
The NEMA Director General expressed gratitude for the Minister’s solidarity and reassured that the agency would continue to support victims with relief materials. She also reiterated NEMA’s readiness to partner with the Ministry of Works and other stakeholders to boost emergency preparedness and disaster response across the country.
Both parties pledged to work closely with the Sokoto State Government and relevant agencies to improve disaster management systems and long-term community safety.
