A boat operator from
Ondo State and member of the
Association of Boat Operators, Water Transporters and Tourism (ATBOWATON), Mr. Obajimi Manuwa Innocent, has appealed to the Federal Government and relevant maritime agencies to provide life jackets for operators in the state.
Speaking during the ATBOWATON Annual General Meeting and Election in Abuja, Innocent said operators in his area mainly ply inland waterways and creeks, transporting passengers from one community to another, rather than operating on the open sea.
He identified the shortage and high cost of quality life jackets as the biggest challenge facing boat operators, stressing that safety equipment remains essential for protecting passengers in the event of accidents on the waterways.
According to him, the current economic situation has made it difficult for many operators to purchase the required standard life jackets.
“We need quality life jackets to ensure safe operations. If any emergency occurs on the water, the life jacket is what can save passengers on board,” he said.
Innocent appealed to agencies such as the
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to support operators through donations of safety equipment.
He noted that the Federal Government had earlier promised to distribute 3,500 life jackets to boat owners across coastal states under the administration’s blue economy initiative, adding that while some states had received their allocations, Ondo State operators were yet to benefit.
The boat operator said the issue had been formally presented to the ATBOWATON national leadership during the AGM and expressed confidence that the association would engage the relevant authorities to ensure Ondo operators receive their allocation.
“We have tabled the matter before our national body, and we believe they will follow it up with the appropriate government agencies,” he said.
He was elected as a Vice President South West of ATBOWATON.
This South West consists of Lagos State ,Ogun State and Ondo State.
