Fed. Min. Of Marine And Blue Economy Donates 3500 Life Jackets To Anambra Govt
By Chinyere Nwoye
In a bid to ensure safety of lives and property on inland waterways, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has donated 3,500 life Jackets to Anambra State government.
The Minister, Mr. Ayotola Adegboyega, represented by the Director, Maritime Abiotic Resources of the ministry, Mrs. Uzoamaka Okereke explained that Anambra is among the states mapped out to receive the life jackets in order to boost safety on river transportation.
“This is a move on the part of the federal government in the ongoing renewed hope of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure better life for Nigerians.’’
Anambra State Commissioner for Transport, Mrs. Patricia Igwebuike, while speaking during the hand over, described the gesture as not just historic, but to further exemplify the synergy and collaborations between the National and Sub-National Governments.
She pointed out that the state government has continued to adopt measures aimed at modernizing, and ensuring safety of lives and property on waterways, as well as organizing stakeholders’ meetings and sensitizing/creating awareness programmes by the ministry and Nigeria Inland Water Ways (NIWA) on safety and related issues on waterways.
She noted that the state government, through the Ministry of Transport, has registered, captured and stored the biometric data of over 200 boat riders in the state spread across Otuocha, Onono, Olumbanasaa, Onitsha and Nsugbe waterfalls cum loading points.
The Executive Secretary, Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. Paul Odenigbo represented by the Head of Department, Planning, Research and Statistics of SEMA, Mr. Emmanuel Izuchukwu, commended the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy for the life jackets.
He said that the intervention came at the right time when it is mostly needed by the people, especially those residing in the riverine areas.
Mr. Odenigbo noted that over 70 percent of lives lost during boat mishaps were as a result of noncompliance with safety measures and assured that SEMA would support the initiative by sensitizing the people on the importance of using life jackets when traveling by water.
The handover of the items was done in the office of the Commissioner, Ministry of Transportation, Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka.
