The Kwara State government has donated five standardized boats and life jackets to two riverine communities ahead of the raining season, in Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas of the state.
The state government also extended the gesture to the State Fire Service.
While Lafiagi and Patigi in Edu and Patigi Local Government areas respectively got two boats each, the state Fire Service got one.
The state’s Commissioner for Environment, Mal. Ndanusa Usman presented the items to the benefiting communities and the state Fire Service at separate events in Lafiagi, Patigi and Ilorin, the state capital.
Usman said the donations were made to forestall mishaps usually caused by rickety passengers’ boats, and for emergence responses to save lives and property.
The Etsu Patigi, Alh Ibrahim Bologi ll and the Emir of Lafiagi, Alh Muhammad Kawu received the items on behalf of their communities while the Director of the Fire Service, Prince Falade Olumuyiwa received that of his agency.
The Commissioner said the boats are for the use of the entire people of Patigi and Lafiagi communities to ease their traveling by water as raining season is fast approaching, as well as Kwara State Fire Service to aid their job.
“This event marks another milestone in the history of Kwara State since inception in 1976. You would recall that during the last boat mishap involving more than 100 people, His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq during his condolences visit, promised to find a lasting solution to the mishap and today we are witnessing promise fulfilled with the donation of standard boats and life jackets, two for Patigi and two for Lafiagi.
“The gesture was also extended to Kwara State Fire Service, which also received a boat and life jackets, for an overall disaster management in the state”, the Commissioner said.
Ndanusa noted that the gesture will go a long way to curb incessant boat mishap in riverine areas and also help in disaster management in the state.
“It is important to emphasize that these actions were prompted by the generosity of our people’s Governor AbdulRazaq, with the aim of halting the recurring water mishaps that have resulted in the loss of lives and properties among our people.
“We believe that with the provision of five standardized 18 -seater boats, equipped with life jackets for passengers on board, the issue of boat mishaps will become a thing of the past in Patigi, Lafiagi and environs,” he added.
He urged the people to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations when boarding the boats in order to avoid mishaps.
In their separate remarks, the Etsu Patigi and the Emir of Lafiagi extolled the governor for redeeming his pledge to provide four boats and life jackets to both communities.
Similarly, the Kwara State Fire Service Director also thanked the governor for his kind gesture.
