…Government To Enforce Use Of Life Jacket
The Adamawa State has vowed to enforce the use of life jacket for those travelling by canoe across the state as a means of transportation to prevent future occurrences. This action was necessary over a recent boat mishap where 36 people were rescued, and 27 dead bodies recovered while 8 are still missing.
Recall that in 2023, the state had recorded three separate boat mishaps in three local government areas in less than a month with casualties.
Mohammed Amin Suleiman, Executive Secretary Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA) who disclosed this said Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has directed that henceforth, it is compulsory for anybody boarding canoe to use life jacket.
Executive Secretary added that government had also banned canoe from overloading and travelling whenever there is a sign of wind or heavy rainfall.
He stated that 21 local council Chairmen in the state have been directed to meet with King of Water (Sarkin Ruwa) in their areas and canoe operators to ensure adherence to the directive, stressing that government will not hesitate to deal with any defaulter.
The Executive Secretary revealed that officials of ADSEMA and other sister agencies will be visiting areas where canoe operates to ensure compliance of Governor’s directive.
On the boat mishaps, Suleimen explained that the incidences occurred at Mayo-Inne in Mayo/Belwa LGA, Njuwa in Yola South LGA and Gurin in Fufore LGA, saying during rescue operations, 36 people were rescued, and 27 dead bodies recovered while 8 are still missing.
He gave the breakdown as follows: Mayo-Inne in Mayo Belwa LGA,14 people were rescued and 2 died, Njuwa in Yola South LGA, 10 people were rescued, 10 died while in Gurin, Fufore LGA, 12 people were rescued, 7 died, and 8 are still missing.
Suleiman attributed the cause of the mishaps to overloading and blowing of wind during rainfalls, saying majority of the casualties are farmers and traders.
Veteran journalist and recipient of A.B.C Yola, Reporter of the Year Award (1997), Hassan Umar Shallpella, works with WAP as a Regional Correspondence. He was trained at Institute of Mass Communication and Technology Jos and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Training School Lagos.He was a News desk Editor and a Correspondent at the Punch newspaper and till 2019, was the Deputy Editor ofThe Scope newspaper.
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