Boat owners are misusing life jackets, putting passengers at risk, Emir of Pategi raises alarm
By Aishat Ibrahim
The Emir of Patigi, Kwara State, Umar Ibrahim, Bologi II, has lamented that boat owners are now misusing life jackets distributed to them to prevent accidents on the state’s waterways.
He disclosed this during a visit by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), led by the Area Manager for Niger and Kwara States, Mr. Akapo Adeboye to his palace.
Umar, in his words, said that instead of using the life jackets to protect passengers and themselves, boat owners have abandoned the life jackets, allowing motorcycle riders and farmers to use them for purposes unrelated to their field.
He complained that motorcycle riders are wearing the donated life jackets while operating their vehicles, and farmers are using them on their farms.
He also disclosed that the government, in its efforts to ensure safe waterway transportation, purchased 17 fibre boats and distributed about 1,000 life jackets to the area.
The Emir added that instead of using the life jackets to make waterway journeys safer for themselves and their passengers, boat owners have abandoned them.
The Emir urged his people to create awareness about the importance of wearing life jackets while traveling on waterways to reduce frequent boat accidents in the area.
Govt distributed life jacket after boat accident killed 103
Last year, the state government had distributed no fewer than 1000 life jackets to locals to prevent after at least 106 persons, mostly from Patigi communities, died in a boat accident.
“Our immediate step is to deliver at least 1000 life jackets to support safe travels on the water in the area,” the state governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said after the distribution.
