The Governor of Cross Rivers State, Bassey Otu, has ordered the immediate suspension of cruise operations and other activities at the Marina Resort.
This comes after a cruise boat carrying Twenty persons, including 14 medical students, reportedly capsized in Calabar. The ill-fated accident occurred on Saturday while the boat was en route to Oron in Akwa Ibom state.
As the news unfolded, the devastating outcome became apparent. Five individuals lost their lives in the accident, and three medical students were declared missing.
However, there was a glimmer of hope as eleven victims were successfully rescued from the water. The governor swiftly responded to the tragic event by launching an investigation into the boat mishap.
Emmanuel Ogbeche, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Bassey Otu, issued a statement outlining the governor’s directives in response to the incident.
Otu urged the State Ministry of Transport to conduct a thorough evaluation of the safety standards and conditions of all boats operating in the Calabar waterways.
The statement read, “All cruise operations and other activities at the Marina Resort are hereby suspended immediately until further notice,” the statement reads.
“Operators of cruise boats and management of the state’s Tourism Bureau are directed to attend a meeting in the office of the Secretary to the State Government on Tuesday, June 27, 2023.
“Besides the cruise boat operations, the State Ministry of Transport is to immediately cross-check the safety standards and conditions of all boats operating in Calabar waterways.”
In addition to the precautionary measures, Governor Bassey Otu urged the police to expedite their investigations and ensure that those responsible for the accident are held accountable under the law.
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