By: Sa’adatu Jumai
In alignment with the Renewed Hope Initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has handed over 1000 life jackets to Kogi State Ministry of Transportation.
Honourable Commissioner for Transportation in Kogi State, Atuluku Victor Levi on behalf of the state government received the life jackets at the Ministry Head office in Lokoja.
The representative of Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Joel Bulus in his address stated that the drive is part of Federal Government ‘s safety campaign to reduce boat mishaps to the nearest minimum.
He emphasized that Kogi State as the confluence state is a centre piece in the inland navigation story of Nigeria, noting that, it creates a unique maritime corridor that connects the Northern and Southern regions, facilitating the movement of goods and people, improving agriculture, trade and powering livelihood in riverine communities.
He asserted that the State can serve as a model for safety compliance across Nigeria inland Waterways.
The Minister described life jacket as a shield that averts boat mishaps, if properly used.
He however, commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his support and commitment to advancing inter- governmental collaboration and public safety and called on Local Government Chairmen, Traditional rulers, Youth Leaders, Boat Operators and water transport unions to lend their weight in the campaign geared towards ensuring safety on waterways.
In his keynote address, the State Commissioner for Transportation, Atuluku Victor Levi significantly stated that the intervention was pivotal and quite timely, describing the initiative as powerful symbol of partnership, foresight and shared commitment to the safety and welfare of riverine communities.
According to him, the donation of the life jackets addresses a gap in inland Waterways transport system, adding that it will go a long way in reducing avoidable accidents fatalities on Waterways.
Atuluku maintained that the thoughtful gesture by Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy depicts an admirable level of sensitivity and responsiveness to the real needs of Nigerians, adding that the state government is committed to ensuring that these life jackets will be properly distributed to the targeted areas.
“We are committed to complementing this concerted effort with stern enforcement of water transport safety and training of boat operators and sensitization programs to build a culture of safety among our riverine communities.
With immense gratitude and deep sense of responsibility, on behalf of the State Government, I commend the unwavering efforts of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in ensuring the responsible utilization of Nigeria marine resources, and addressing emerging issues and also sought for more windows of opportunities”, he stated.
In his address, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Gabriel Akor stated that the gesture did not only reflect the strong inter-governmental collaboration, but also shows a joint effort in protecting lives on waterways.
In their Goodwill messages, Chairman Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Abdullahi Bala Yusuf, Representative of Boat Commuters, Community Leader, Gimba Abdulrahman and Representative of Private Boat Operators, Usman Momoh Sani unanimously lauded the initiative, stressing that the intervention will positively impact on water transport system.
They disclosed that the laudable gesture would add value to the concerted effort of National Inland Waterways Authority and National Hydroelectric Power Producing Area Development Commission (N_HYPPADEC) in ensuring safe traveling on water transportation.
The stakeholders commended the gesture of Federal Government for the timely intervention and also reaffirmed their commitment to keying into initiatives and campaigns that will further safeguard the lives of boat commutters.
SP Ali Usman, a Marine Police Officer, assured the key actors of the unwavering support and maximum cooperation of the Police command in ensuring stringent enforcement and compliance on boat commutters.
In his Closing Remark, General Manager Business Dev, Surveyor Olawale Adetola posited that National Inland Waterways Authority is assiduously working towards reducing boat mishaps to the lowest, by ensuring a more rigid proactive measures to nip in the buds, tendencies of boat mishaps.
The unveiling, symbolic handing over, practical demonstration and enlightenment on the proper use of Life jacket marks a pivotal moment of the handing over ceremony.
