28/07/2025
MINNA EMIRATE YOUTH ASSOCIATION (MEYA) MOURNS VICTIMS OF ZUMBA BOAT TRAGEDY
The Minna Emirate Youth Association (MEYA) expresses its profound grief and extends heartfelt condolences to the families and communities affected by the tragic boat mishap that occurred on the way to Kwata Market in Zumba, Shiroro Local Government Area. Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of 13 precious souls - men and women who perished when their boat capsized while carrying 39 passengers to the market. While we are grateful that 26 people were rescued alive, the loss of even one life is one too many, and this tragedy has left an indelible mark on our collective consciousness. As young people who understand the struggles of rural communities and the daily risks they face in accessing basic necessities like markets, MEYA stands in solidarity with the bereaved families and the entire Shiroro community during this darkest hour.
MEYA commends the swift response of the Niger State Government, particularly the Ministry of Transport, and the Nigeria Police for their immediate search and rescue operations that saved 26 lives.
However, we urgently call upon the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Niger State Government, and the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) to provide comprehensive support to survivors, affected families, and the broader community. The families who lost their breadwinners need immediate assistance to rebuild their lives, while survivors require both medical and psychological support to overcome the trauma of this harrowing experience. We cannot allow these families to bear the burden of this tragedy alone when collective action can provide the relief and hope they desperately need.
This recurring nightmare in our riverine communities demands immediate and decisive action from both state and federal authorities to implement lasting safety measures that will prevent future tragedies.
MEYA strongly advocates for comprehensive regulation of water transportation, mandatory provision of life jackets, intensive community sensitization programs, and strict enforcement of passenger capacity limits on all boats and canoes. We call on the government to enact legislation that prioritizes the safety of our people over convenience or profit, ensuring that proper safety protocols become non-negotiable requirements for water transport operators.
Every Nigerian life matters, and as young people who represent the future of this nation, we refuse to accept that such preventable losses should continue to claim our brothers and sisters. The time for action is now - we owe it to the 13 souls we lost and the countless others who depend on water transportation for their survival.
Comr. Bashir Abubakar,
President, Minna Emirate Youth Association (MEYA)
28th July, 2025.