Report blames operator in Enugu amusement park tragedy

Nearly two months after the Enugu Auckland Amusement Park tragedy that claimed the lives of three children, a report released on Monday by the committee set up by the state government has indicted the operator on duty for taking the wrong decision that caused the accident.

Briefing newsmen in Enugu, chairman of the committee and Commissioner for Enugu Capital Development Territory, Chidi Aroh, however, gave the management and facilities at the recreation centre a clean bill, just as he announced the immediate re-opening of the facility, which was shut down since July 11 when the accident occurred.

The commissioner, who said the report has been approved by the State Executive Council, stated among other things that: “The incident was caused by an error of judgment by the operator, because from all technical tests the machines were in good condition and the servicing conditions were met.”

He explained that the committee discovered that the children panicked while riding on the spinning teacup machine in the amusement park.

Aroh disclosed further that the State Executive Council has directed that all recreational facilities in Enugu must within the next 14 days ensure a provision of comprehensive insurance policy that will cover all third party users of their facilities or risk being shut down completely.

The report, he said also called for an immediate review of the standards of operation of all such facilities in the state with a monthly evaluation of compliance with the standards.

“Every month, there must be a compliance certificate issued to all operators of recreational facilities; if it is not done, the facility will be shut down automatically. The performance evaluation certificate will include confirmation of the 30 days comprehensive insurance, provision of medical and emergency facilities among other things.