Niger State Government Distributes Metal Boats To Riverine Communities
By Nura Mohammed, Minnao
In an effort to reduce frequent boat accidents that have claimed numerous lives, the Niger State government in north-central Nigeria has presented five fifty-seater metal boats to riverine communities in the state.
The Special Adviser on Digital Media and Strategy, Abdullberqy Usman Ebbo, disclosed this to journalists in Minna after the presentation in Wuya, a community in the Gbako local government area of Niger State.
Ebbo stated that the Niger State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) delivered the boats as part of Governor Umaru Bago’s initiative to ensure safer inland water transportation, support agricultural activities, and enhance the safety of residents.
He further noted that the CSDA Project Coordinator, Aisha Abdulkadir, explained that the communities requested this intervention due to the dangers posed by previously used wooden boats, which were prone to damage and unsuitable for safe water travel.
According to Ebbo, during the handover of operational codes to the local government chairmen, the Commissioner for Transport, Hadiza Kuta, emphasized the importance of enforcing water travel regulations and warned that violators would face prosecution.
In their remarks, some community representatives expressed gratitude for Governor Mohammed Umar Bago’s foresight in addressing boat safety and reducing the risk of future mishaps.
It should be recalled that recently, over one hundred people from the state lost their lives in a tragic boat accident in Gbajibo, a community in the Mokwa local government area of Niger State.
This tragedy has spurred government intervention to prevent further occurrences.
Oyenike Oyeniyi
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