54 bodies recovered, 200 still missing in Nigeria boat accident 

At least 54 bodies have now been recovered from northern Nigeria’s River Niger after a boat reportedly carrying over 200 passengers to a food market, capsized on Friday.

Some 24 people were rescued but hopes of finding any more survivors are fading. The boat was going from Kogi state to neighbouring Niger state when it capsized, Ibrahim Audu, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency spokesperson, told The Associated Press.

Authorities have not confirmed what caused the boat to capsize, but local media suggested the boat might have been overloaded. Overcrowding on boats is common in remote parts of Nigeria where the lack of good roads leaves many with no alternative routes.

According to Justin Uwazuruonye, who oversees Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency operations in the state, rescuers had trouble finding the location of the capsized boat for hours after Friday’s tragedy occurred.

Such deadly incidents are increasingly becoming a source of concern in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, as authorities struggle to enforce safety measures and regulations for water transportation. Most of the accidents have been attributed to overcrowding and the lack of maintenance of the boats, often built locally to accommodate as many passengers as possible in defiance of safety measures.

Also, authorities have not been able to enforce the use of life jackets on such trips, often because of the lack of availability or cost.