•••Sues For Calm Over Kidnap Incident
Thankgod Amaebi, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has announced sweeping safety measures for boat operators to prevent a reoccurrence of the recent boat mishap which claimed 20 lives.
The safety measures were announced by the state Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, during the weekly State Executive Meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo stated that henceforth there is now mandatory use of life jackets and provision of lifebuoys by all boat operators plying waterways in the state.
He also announced the ban on cooking in what he calls local wooden engine boats and illegal inflammables in boats.
The Deputy Governor also emphasized the quantity of fuel needed for any journey to forestall future occurrences of avoidable fire incidents and mishaps.
The Deputy Governor who expressed sadness over the incident, called on the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Navy, the marine component of the Nigeria Police, and the state Community Safety Corps to enforce the new measures, including the subsisting ban on night travels on waterways in the state.
Ewhrudjakpo also expressed sadness over a recent kidnap incident that occurred along the Nembe-Brass corridor of the coastal state and urged all relevant security agencies to intensify their patrolling duties in the area.
He thanked Bayelsans, especially the Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Hon. Target Segibo, members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, and all those who participated in the search and rescue operation that led to the recovery of the remains of the victims.
He said,” Preliminary reports seem to show some level of negligence on the part of the boat operators.
“Consequently, cooking in all our boats is hereby banned and all travellers must have life jackets, whether speed or wooden local boats. All boats must also have life-buoys and the ban on night travel is still in force.
“All boats must also be checked for inflammables that should not be in the boat, apart from the quantity needed for the journey. We believe that these measures will help save lives and property, which is the main duty of government.
“We also want to extend our deep sadness over the kidnap that occurred along the Nembe-Brass route a couple of days ago. It is unfortunate but I can assure you that the government is taking steps to ensure the safety of our waterways.
“No boat should take more than what is in their manifest. We thank all those who helped in the rescue mission in the Southern Ijaw boat mishap.
“The Governor has directed that the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigeria Police, the state Community Safety Corps and all relevant security agencies, and even the Maritime Union must enforce these measures to ensure safety on our waterways.”
