By Muyideen Aliyu
IlorinIn a renewed effort aimed at strengthening the safety of lives and property of water travellers, the Kwara State government has handed over one thousand life jackets to boat operators across five riverine local government areas of the state.The Secretary to the State Government, Professor Jibril Manma Saba, represented by the Director, PFS, Mrs. Balogun Raliat Motunrayo, handed the life jackets to the affected council areas as part of measures to reposition the transportation sector in the state.The five riverine local government areas are Moro, Kaiama, Baruten, Edu and Patigi. While highlighting several life-touching projects and invaluable track records of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, alongside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s crucial support in donating the life jackets, Saba admonished the beneficiaries to ensure proper use of the equipment to protect passengers’ lives and property as well as the economic activities of the people.Earlier, the State Commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Lafia Aliyu Kora-Sabi, restated the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of water travellers, adding that the Kwara government was “proud to distribute 1,000 life jackets received from 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,” Sabi added.The Commissioner further affirmed Governor AbdulRazaq’s transparency and assured citizens of fairness and equity in the distribution of the life jackets to Local Government Council Chairmen of the beneficiary communities of Baruten, Moro, Edu and Patigi, as well as to representatives of boat operators and leaders of transport unions.Also, 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 advised residents of riverine areas to relocate upstream for their safety and congratulated the Commissioner for Transportation and the Ministry for the success of the initiative.Speaking on behalf of other beneficiary Local Government Council Chairmen, the Chairman of Kaiama Local Government, Hon. Abubakar Abdullahi Danladi, represented by Director of Personnel Management, Mrs. Aina Omotope, appreciated President Tinubu and Governor AbdulRazaq for the gesture.The Chairman of Boat Operators in Kwara State, Mallam Abubakar Yakub, lauded both the Federal and Kwara State governments for the timely intervention and promised adherence to proper use of the life jackets to ensure the safety of citizens.
