The Cross River State government has commiserated with the families and the Nigerian Medical Students Association on the unfortunate ancident of a boat mishap at the Marina Resort .

The State Government expressed shock over the news of the 3 missing students.

A statement signed by Pst Eme Affiah,
Permanent secretary, Min of Culture & Tourism said they received with shock, the news of the unfortunate incident of a boat mishap at the Marina Resort involving members of the Nigerian Medical Students Association.

Pst Affiah explained that while 12 persons were rescued comprising 10 students and two crew members, three students are yet to be found.

While commiserating with the families of the missing students, Pst Affiah, stated that though the ill-fated cruise was a private arrangmement between the students and a private operator, the oversight of safety of all life and property is paramount in the duties of the state government.

He explained that the students concluded the arrangements for the Cruise with a private boat operator during the visit to the Slave History Museum.

Pst Affiah noted that the students had sought discounts from the management of the resort for a reduction of the entry fee for about two hundred students who were expected, adding that the Boat Cruise was not part of their initial plan but was based on an impromptu decision made during the visit to the Slave Museum.

The Permanent secretary explained further that the students were said to have been provided with life jackets and were all seated in the boat before the commencement of the cruise.

He said the first batch of students had successfully concluded the cruise before the unfortunate incident happened.

He commended members of the Nigerian Navy and local rescue teams that stepped in to rescue the students.

In his words, “This will be the first sad incidence of this kind at the Marina Resort since it was opened. In a bid to get to the bottom of the matter, His Excellency the Governor of Cross River state, has swiftly shut down the resort and ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.

Following the governor’s directive, the Ministry of Tourism will get to the bottom of the issue(s) that led to this very regrettable and avoidable accident. The Head of CRSTB has been ordered to provide the safety logs of the operating boat company with the OPERATIONS UNIT for a Decisive mitigation and preventive action”.