Federal government has launched a Life-Jacket Initiative, urging water commuters to prioritise safety and adhere strictly to guidelines to prevent recurring boat mishaps nationwide.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this in a statement on Friday through Mrs Anastasia Ogbonna, the director of Information and Communications.
Oyetola was represented by Mr Hussieni Shettima, director of Marine Conservation, Innovation and Technology, at the launch of the initiative in Taraba State.
He noted that distributing life-jackets is part of the government’s continued efforts to improve safety on Nigeria’s inland waterways.
“The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, in collaboration with the Taraba government, has taken a major step to enhance water transport safety.
“A crucial batch of life-jackets was officially handed over to the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Jalingo Area Office, today.
“This milestone marks an important phase in the ongoing campaign to reduce accidents on Taraba State’s waterways,” Oyetola said.
He emphasised that joint efforts between federal and state bodies would yield concrete, life-saving results for local water users.
Oyetola explained that the jackets would improve safety for those relying on the Benue, Donga, and Taraba rivers for travel and trade.
He stressed that long-term success depended on community compliance, continuous public awareness, and strong regulatory enforcement.
The Minister said providing safety equipment like life-jackets could significantly reduce accidents and ultimately save many lives. (NAN)
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