SUNDAY April 13, 2025 |
By thenewsdesk.ng
The Boat Operators Union in Akwa Ibom State has received 30 life jackets and 20 lifebuoys from the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Ibaka.
This donation aims to enhance the safety of maritime workers operating in the area.
The Commanding Officer of the Base, Captain Aliyu Abdullahi, presented the donation during the Civil-Military Relations Outreach organized by FOB Ibaka at Ibaka Beach in Mbo Local Government Area on Saturday.
With the theme: “Personal Survival Techniques for Improved Survivability at sea”, Capt. Abdullahi said the maritime safety outreach was targeted to the host community of Ibaka as part of her non-kinetic operations and civil-military relations in line with Operation Delta Sanity 2.
He stressed the importance of outreach as a means to remind the users of the waterways of the need to replace adequate safety measures while using the waterways.
“A total of 30 life jackets and 20 lifebuoys were donated to various boat operator unions which included the fishermen and marine transporters,” Abdullahi noted.
He said the outreach was intended to enlighten users of the waterways within FOB Ibaka area of operations on safety measures to be observed at sea to prevent occurrences of maritime accidents which lead to loss of lives and properties.
He reminded the beneficiaries that the use of safety equipment while on the waterways was a requirement of the law.
The Commanding Officer added that the base would not hesitate to arrest defaulting boats and their operators for safety infractions.
Abdullahi seized the opportunity to engage with the community youths and stakeholders while highlighting the importance of synergy and collaboration in driving development and progress in the area.
“This interaction underscored the commitment to fostering a positive relationship between the community and the base, with a focus on mutual understanding and collective growth,” he said.
The outreach featured lectures on survival techniques at sea including the use of life jackets and lifebuoys as well as demonstrations on the proper use of life jackets and conduct of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Victor Ntuen, a boat operator, commended the outreach by the base especially the donation of life jackets and lifebuoys to Marine operators in the area.
He pledged to observe the highest standard of safety on the waterways.
