My people, hear wetin happen o! E get as Federal Government don drop N14 billion for matter wey concern ‘waters’ transport for Nigeria. This one na serious matter, as e go help us get beta and modern boats wey fit carry people and goods safely for our rivers and lakes dem.
Omo, na Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, former Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), wey come yarn this gist for Osun State. Him talk say this cash wey dem don approve no be joke, as e go make sure say passengers and traders go dey safe any time dem dey waka for water.
Oyebamiji come explain say for long, many states dey suffer because of old wooden boats wey no dey safe at all. E dey lead to plenty accidents wey we fit avoid if we get correct infrastructures and vessels. E talk say, “I don present paper to Federal Government, and dem don approve about N14.6 billion for beta boats wey go fit carry agricultural products and people safely.”
The new boats go dey focused on river states like Niger, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, and Kebbi, wey need am pass. This new initiative go help carry food and goods faster and cheaper from remote areas to towns. Oyebamiji talk say, “Wooden boats dey cause 20 to 25 percent of wetin dey happen for water, but na human factor dey cause about 70 percent of accidents.”
He come drop serious warning say if we no correct our attitudes and behaviors, safety no go fit change. Him talk say him don see some operators wey dey drink alcohol and dey use drugs when dem dey operate boats. “Safety no be only about better vessels, na also about wetin people dey do,” him add.
For him time for NIWA, Oyebamiji say e don transform the agency wey before dey get bad name for boat accidents, by improving staff welfare and positive engagement. “When I enter NIWA, we dey listen to workers and dey engage journalists as part of wetin we dey do. Without hiring new staff, we fit deliver 75 to 80 percent improvement.”
As him dey eye for Governorship for Osun State under All Progressives Congress, Oyebamiji tell journalists say him go still dey follow the pattern wey him dey use for NIWA. Him promise say transparency and accountability go still dey lead him political ambition. “I go continue to engage with the media, listen to una criticisms and make beta changes,” him talk.
Earlier, Mr. Frank Meke, wey lead the journalists, come yan say Oyebamiji dey very accessible and e don make work for maritime reporting easy. E come give Oyebamiji
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