Following the tragic boat mishap that led to the drowning of three medical students out of 14 in Calabar Marina Resort, Governor Bassey Otu has ordered an indefinite suspension of cruise operations at the Resort.
A statement on Sunday signed by the Cross Rivers Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Ogbeche, said that the Governor has ordered that all cruise boat operations and other activities at the Marina Resort be suspended immediately until further notice.
He urged the Police to speed up their investigations of the fatal boat accident and prosecute those found culpable to serve as deterrence to others.
The Governor also directed that the cruise boat operators with the management of the State Tourism Bureau are directed to attend a meeting in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government on Tuesday, June 27th, 2023 by 12:pm.
“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 the Calabar waterways,” even as he continues to sympathize with the families of the affected students over the unfortunate incident, Ogbeche said.
The release reads in full: “Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, in further response to the cruise boat accident at the Marina Resort, Calabar, on Saturday, June 24, 2023, involving 14 medical students with three feared dead and 1l rescued, has directed as follows:
“That all cruise boat operations and other activities at the Marina Resort be suspended immediately until further notice.
“That the cruise boat operators with the management of the State Tourism Bureau are directed to attend a meeting in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government on Tuesday, June 27th, 2023 by 12:pm.
“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 the Calabar waterways.
“That the Police should speed up their investigations of the fatal boat accident and prosecute those found culpable to serve as deterrence to others.
“The governor further sympathizes with the families of the affected students over the unfortunate incident.”
