The Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated it determination to make traveling on the nations waterways safe with the donation of 2300 live jackets to maritime operators in Kogi State.
The live jackets donated by the Federal Government through the Kogi State Coordinator, National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), said it has become a source of concern about the recent cases of loss of lives and issues of boat capsize on waterways.
While pointing out that the federal government is resolutely committed to protecting lives and properties on the waterways, lamented recent worrisome trends where lives and properties were lost, reasons why a deliberate and proactive steps is now been taking to forestall water accidents.
Speaking at the flag off of the donation, the Kogi State Project Coordinator, N-HYPPADEC, Engr. Joan Ogwuche, said the 2300 live jackets are for Lokoja, Kogi, Omala, Ajaokuta, Idah, Ibaji, Igalamela, Ofu and Adavi LGAs of the State.
She appealed to the maritime operators not to see the personal floating device as tools for decoration, but for protection and saving of lives.
She appealed to the National Inland Waterways, the Marine Police to join hands with N-HYPPADEC in the fight to loss of lives, boat capsize and other mishaps associated with water transportation with the use of the live jackets.
Our Kogi State Correspondent, reports that Engr. Ogwuche described Water transportation as the safest means of transportation, reason why the Commission decided to supply live jackets to boat operators, said the Jackets should not be use for decoration.
She urged operators to ensure that the live jackets are used appropriately and not kept, said the Commission will continue to monitor their activities with the view to ensuring compliance.
The District Chairman, Maritime Union Alh. Abdullahi Bala Yusuf, said beneficiaries would put the jackets into optimum use, lamented naked travels on the waterways by boat users as something that would not be allowed.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Lokoja LGA, Comr. Abdullahi Adamu, represented by the Vice Chairperson, Hon. Patricia Balogun, thanked N- HYPPADEC for the initiative towards saving lives on the nation's waterways.
Similarly, Marine Police Department, said with the donation of the live jackets by N- HYPPADEC, it will no longer be business as usual, assuring that the Department would enforce compliance.
Highlights of the flag off was the presentation of live jackets to maritime operators and respective representative Council Chairmen of the affected Local Government Areas
Copyright: Fresh Angle International (www.freshangleng.com)
ISSN 2354 - 4104
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