The Ondo state command of the l Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, has warned against the violation of safety rules on waterways by boat and ferry operators, transporters and passengers.
In a statement issued and signed by the command spokesperson, Olufemi Omole, said the command will no longer tolerate the lackadaisical attitude of boat transporters who are only concerned with loading goods and passengers without ensuring their safety.
He lamented on the previous boat mishap at Ilaje Local Government Area which claimed the life of one passenger leaving 15 others wounded as a result of overspeeding and refusal to use Life Jackets.
He noted the recent occurrence when a speed boat left Ugbonla for Igbenefa in Ilaje in the night and encountered a collision with a bigger wooden boat from the high sea leading to the death of one person while four other passengers sustained injured.
He said men of the NSCDC were deployed to the area for rescue operations and two victims of the boat mishap: Oki Michael and Omogbehin Adebayo bodies were recovered.
He said: “It is high time our people placed premise on the value of human life; we have warned repeatedly that no transporter or passenger should travel the waterways without putting on their life jackets.
“Henceforth, the Command Marine Special force would be on patrol and violators be arrested”
He said the Command will continue to collaborate with the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Igbokoda in adhering to the safety measures and arrest of suspected Illegal dealers in Petroleum products, vandals, oil bunkers and enforcement of safety rules on waterways.
He disclosed that the NSCDC in the state has trained officers and men who would, in turn, carry out Public Sensitization and Awareness Programs on how to identify possible security threats and imbibe proactive Safety Precautions; stressing that the Command is fully committed to the Corps Mandate in Safeguarding all Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, Disaster management, Intelligence gathering amongst others.
While commiserating with the families of the victims and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria Ondo State Chapter; the Command helmsman reiterated that Safety of lives and property is a prerogative of the NSCDC thus, refusal to wear life jackets while plying the waterways will no more be tolerated.
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