The Federal Government has significantly ramped up its efforts to ensure safer inland water transportation across Nigeria with the official handover of 3,5000 life jackets to Zamfara State Government.
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, represented by Assistant Director, Information and PR, Muhammad Zakari, MFR, emphasized the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and livelihoods of citizens who rely on water transportation, stating that the distribution underscores a proactive approach to enhancing safety on the nation’s waterways.
According to Oyetola, the comprehensive initiative aims to distribute life jackets to riverine communities, with Zamfara State being the latest beneficiary.
He stressed the critical importance of wearing life jackets and urged boat operators and ferry associations to rigorously enforce their usage among passengers, reiterating the vital slogan: “No life jacket, no entry!”
The Minister appealed to local government officials, traditional rulers, youth associations, and transport operators to become champions of safety, embedding a robust safety culture at the grassroots level. He highlighted Zamfara State’s unique position within Nigeria’s inland waterway ecosystem, acknowledging the central role water plays in the livelihoods of countless residents, even as a landlocked state.
The Minister detailed the government’s three-pronged strategy to eliminate preventable deaths on the water to include: Strict enforcement of the Inland Waterways Transportation Regulations 2023; Continuous public education and sensitization campaigns and Provision of essential safety equipment, particularly life jackets, to waterway users.
Furthermore, the Minister disclosed that the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) remains a key partner, spearheading regulation, compliance monitoring, and supporting education and enforcement efforts to ensure the strategy’s success.
The Governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Dauda Lawa, represented by Deputy Governor Mani Mammuni, acknowledged the official handover and assured the Ministry that the life jackets would be directly distributed to those most in need within the State’s riverine communities.
While expressing gratitude to the Federal Government and the Honourable Minister, the Deputy Governor directed the State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, in collaboration with the Humanitarian and Disaster Management Agency and the Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency (ZEMA), to coordinate the inventory, mapping, and structured distribution of the life jackets.
So far, the life jackets have been distributed in the following States: Niger, Bayelsa, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Taraba, Ogun and Lagos States.
Signed
Anastasia Ogbonna
Director, Information & PR
