ALABERE AHMED BABATUNDE
In its continued stride at strengthening the safety of lives and properties of water travellers in the State, the Kwara State government has officially handed over one thousand life jackets to boat operators across five riverine local governments of the State.
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Jibril Manma Saba, represented by his Director, PFS, Mrs. Balogun Raliat Motunrayo, who handed the life jackets, conveyed the warmest wishes of the State Government to the Ministry towards repositioning the transportation sector in the State.
He highlighted several life touching projects and invaluable track records of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s crucial support and donation of the life jackets, warning the beneficiaries to ensure proper use of the life jackets.
In his address, the State Commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Lafia Aliyu Korasabi restated the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of water travellers, adding that the Kwara government is “proud to distribute 1000 life jackets received from the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy recently”. The initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is a demonstration of the government’s commitment towards enhancing safety and well-being of citizens in the riverine communities across Nigeria.
The Commissioner affirmed Governor AbdulRazaq’s transparency and assured citizens of fairness, and equity in the distribution of the life jackets.
The handing over ceremony was witnessed by the Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bola Olukoju; Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftancy Affairs and Community Development, Hon. Abdullahi Bata; Senior Special Assistant on Transportation, Hon. Ibrahim Orire, the Local Government Council Chairmen of the beneficiary communities such as Kiama, Baruten, Moro, Edu and Patigi, respectively; representatives of boat operators, leaders of transport unions, among others.
In her good will message, the State Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bola Olukoju, represented by the Director of Public Orientation, Mr. Olanrewaju Ademola, described the event as another landmark achievement of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq across various sectors of the State
Olukoju, however, advised residents of the riverine areas to relocate upstream for their safety, and congratulated the Commissioner for Transportation and the Ministry for the success of the initiative.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alh. Salau Kabir Abdullahi, emphasized the significance of using life jackets while travelling on water ways to guard against preventable loss of lives and properties. He sought the cooperation of all the stakeholders to reposition water transportation to ensure the safety of citizens.
Speaking for all other beneficiary Local Government Council Chairmen, the Executive Chairman of Kaiama Local Government, Hon. Abubakar Abdullahi Danladi, represented by his Director Personnel Management, Mrs. Aina Omotope, thanked God for the event and appreciated President Tinubu and Governor AbdulRazaq for the gesture.
The Chairman of Boat Operators in Kwara State, Mallam Abubakar Yakub, thanked both the Federal and Kwara State government for the timely gesture and promised to adhere to the proper use of the life jackets to ensure the safety of citizens.
The key highlights of the occasion were the technical session that provided insights on the proper use of the life jackets and some preventive cautions in case of boat capsize; and the official presentation of the life jackets to all the five beneficiary local governments.
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