Over 20 passengers are missing, while a toddler and seven others lost their lives during a tragic boat accident at Beneth Island in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West local government area of Delta State over the weekend.
The lifeless body of the one-year-old child was discovered hours later floating along the creek.
The boat accident occurred when the speedboat carrying passengers who were returning from a burial ceremony collided with a submerged log, causing it to capsize.
The resultant collision threw many passengers overboard into the water, many of whom were unable to swim and were not equipped with life jackets.
UniAbuja Elevates 154 staff In Major Promotion Exercise The University of Abuja has announced the promotion of 154 members of staff to various ranks, a milestone approved by the institution’s Governing Council during its 98th Regular Meeting held on December 10, 11, 12, and 14. Among the academic staff, 19 lecturers were elevated to the rank of professor, 14 to associate professor, 20 to senior lecturer, six to lecturer I, and one to lecturer II. Similarly, 94 non-teaching staff were promoted, including two to the rank of deputy director, six to assistant director, and others to different grades across various departments. A breakdown of the promotions highlights advancements in diverse fields such as automobile engineering, energy engineering, library management, international economic law, political sociology, cardiology, medical microbiology, educational administration, and applied geophysics, among others. The acting Registrar, Islamiyat Abdulrahim, disclosed the details in a statement signed by the acting Director of Public Affairs, Habib Yakoob. In her congratulatory remarks, the acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, lauded the dedication and hard work of the promoted staff. She emphasized the university’s commitment to fostering a culture of excellence through timely recognition of merit and career advancement. “These promotions reflect the University of Abuja’s commitment to fostering excellence, recognising merit, and encouraging growth among its staff,” Maikudi said. “I congratulate all the promoted individuals and urge them to continue contributing to the University’s vision of academic and professional distinction.” She further assured that all outstanding promotion cases had been reviewed and resolved, while pending cases awaited external assessment reports. This, she noted, underscores the university’s dedication to fairness, transparency, and meritocracy. The University of Abuja remains committed to supporting its workforce and driving academic and professional excellence in the Nigerian education sector.
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Many of passengers on the ferry drowned almost immediately upon being flung into the river, while others went missing in the murky water.
Eyewitnesses report that the boat was travelling at high speed when the accident occurred.
Witnesses and survivors recounted harrowing moments of desperation as passengers struggled to stay afloat.
Meanwhile, search and rescue efforts have been launched, but the fate of the missing passengers remains uncertain.
Families of the victims have been left devastated, with many still clinging to the hope that the missing, including other children, may still be found alive.
Rescue teams continue to comb the area where the accident happened, but hopes of finding survivors are fading as time passes.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bright Edafe, solicited for patience to confirm the issue.
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Royal Institute of Health Technology
