BY IBRAHIM SALIHU.
The Niger State Government has again flagged-off the distribution of 3500 life jackets to revirine areas in the State, as part of effort to protect life and properties of waterway users.
The Commissioner for Transportation Hadiza Idris kuta alone side others top Government officials who performed the flag-off to riverine Communities at the farm center Minna, expressed delight at the developmental efforts of Farmer Governor Umar Mohammed Bago measures put in place to tackle the menace facing the revirine communities.
The Commissioner for transportation hadiza Idris Kuta said, the initiative is aimed at curbing the alarming rate of boat mishaps and fatalities in riverine Communities in the State and response to the recurrent boat accidents caused by human error, poor equipment, and non-compliance with safety regulations act after series of sanitization by the Government.
Hadiza emphasized that wearing life jackets become nessesary stressing that any boat driver who violated the rule of No Jackets No Traveling will face full wrack of the law.
She however thanks Governor Umar Mohammed Bago for providing adequate facilities to curb out the recurrent boat missab which has reduce to minimum since the inception of his administration.
The Area Manager of Nigerian inland water ways in charge of Niger-Kwara Akapo Adeboye who reiterated the importance of life jacket usage among waterway users, calling on owners and operators to ensure adequate usage of the items when ever traveling along water ways which has become national priority.
The Niger State AlGON Chairman Zakaria Iliyazu reaffirmed the state’s commitment to enforcing waterway safety standards and supporting federal and state initiatives to reduce accidents, while assuring support of enforcement.
The Chairman, Boat owner Association Niger State chapter Atairu Bawa Isah said, the items will significantly bolster marine safety capacity to prevent further mishaps.
Other speakers commented the initiative by the ministry for proactive commitment to safety, awareness and protection of the lives of its citizens, particularly in riverine communities where water transportation served for their livelihood.
The life jackets were provided through the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy for onward distribution to riverine communities in the State.