From Nahum Sule, Jalingo
A tragic boat accident claimed the lives of three people on Friday night, July 25, 2025, when an engine boat carrying passengers and vehicles capsized on the Namnai River along the Jalingo-Wukari road in Taraba State. The incident, which occurred around 7:20 p.m., has sparked renewed outrage over the neglected state of the collapsed Namnai Bridge.
According to Jidda Mayoreniyo, chairman of the Taraba State Inland Water Transporters, the boat overturned while crossing the river, resulting in three confirmed deaths and several others rescued. The exact number of missing persons and the extent of property damage, estimated to be worth millions, are still under investigation.
The Namnai Bridge, a vital link connecting Taraba to Benue and other parts of Nigeria’s North Central, North East, and North West regions, collapsed in September 2024 and has remained unrepaired for over a year. This has forced commuters to rely on makeshift ferries to cross the river, often under hazardous conditions.
Professor John Ajai, a Taraba State University academic, has accused both the Federal and Taraba State Governments of gross negligence, citing their failure to reconstruct the bridge or implement safety measures for ferry operations. In a passionate statement, Ajai recounted his own terrifying experience crossing the river days before the accident, noting the absence of life jackets, safety checks, and trained operators.
“This was entirely avoidable,” Ajai said, expressing anger and heartbreak over the loss of lives. “For a whole year, the Namnai Bridge has been left broken and abandoned. No visible efforts to reconstruct it. No safety equipment. No emergency response teams. Just silence, and now, death.”
Ajai criticized the lack of action from both federal and state authorities, questioning whether such neglect would be tolerated in cities like Abuja or Lagos. He urged the Federal Government to treat the bridge’s reconstruction as a national emergency, mobilize contractors, and provide a clear timeline for repairs. He also called on the Taraba State Government to regulate ferry operations, ensure boat inspections, provide life jackets, and deploy emergency responders.
“We do not want condolences or vague promises. We want action,” Ajai declared, addressing President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu directly. “I will keep speaking out until something changes, because silence is no longer an option.”
The tragedy underscores the urgent need for infrastructure repairs and safety measures to prevent further loss of life on the Namnai River.
