Naija, make una gather here, because wetin dey happen for Benue State no be small matter o!
The state government don yan say dem go enforce serious safety measures to tackle boat accidents wey dey happen for the waterways. You sabi say for places like Buruku, Guma, and Agatu, na river transport dey carry people go anywhere and everywhere.
Dis matter come as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security and Internal Affairs, Joseph Har, launch initiative wey go make boat ride safe again. You know say just last week, six students wey dey return to school no fit swim again after their boat capsize for River Buruku. Na serious tragedy be dat!
As dem don sit down gather with Buruku Local Government, security agencies, and the Traditional Council, dem don set new protocols wey go dey follow all river commuters and operators. E mean say life jackets don become ‘mandatory’ for everybody wey dey enter boat, no waisting time again.
Plus, no boat operator fit carry more than one vehicle at once to avoid overloading my people. This one na wetin dem dey call prevention, no be so? Joseph Har talk say dem go curfew water transport by 8:00pm, wey be two hours after federal government don declare 6:00pm deadline.
Dem no go joke for dis safety matter again, as Har emphasize say dem go follow weather protocols and international standards so dat no more tragedies go happen again. E be like say dem wan make people trust the ferry system once again as dem dey wait for bridge wey dem dey build.
For riverbank, Har dey yarn to stakeholders, marine workers, and security people, e look dem face straight say na serious matter. No more wahala, all access roads go dey barricaded after 8:00pm. Life jackets enforcement go start by February 1, give people time to go buy better jackets wey no go carry last like the old ones wey dem vandalise before.
He call on the local government chairman and everybody wey get heart to support, make dem donate new life jackets for the commuters. Na as e sound now, Har don recommend joint enforcement team wey go consist of DSS, Nigeria Police Force, National Inland Waterways Authority, and the Civil Protection Guards to help carry out dis serious work.
The Chairman of the Marine Union and Tyoor Mbaapen don talk say dis crackdown dey necessary, because community safety efforts before just dey suffer from enforcement wahala. Dem dey thank Governor Hyacinth Alia and the security team for finally taking this matter serious!
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