The need to enforce the
use of life jackets by passengers travelling on sea routes in Rivers State has been stressed.
The chairman, Marine Safety and Security Campaign Association, Rivers State, Chief Tekena Tom-manuel made the call in an interview with The Tide correspondent in his office in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Tom-Manuel said safety of lives and properties of marine boat operators and their passengers could be over – emphasised, pointing out that it needed special attention by the Government and other relevant authorities.
He said the objective of the body had been to ensure that boat operators obey marine rules and regulations, by ensuring that the lives of their passengers were given priority through the provision of life jackets while travelling to their various riverine communities.
According to him, so many lives have been lost due to negligence on the use of life vest in case of boat mishap, stressing that safety cannot be compromised, and called on all passengers boarding speed boats to insist on the use of life jackets.
The chairman disclosed that defaulters would be made to face sanction or the wrath of the law and enjoined operators and owners of speed boats to always provide such facilities for their passengers.
He also expressed worry over the incessant cases of sea piratcy within the territorial waterways of the state, reiterating that time had come for all hands to be on deck and ameliorate the ugly trend for the safety and security of the passengers on sea route transportation.
Tom-Manuel further called on the security agents to beef-up their activities on the see especially the Nigeria Navy, the marine police and other security agencies to challenge and  bring to a halt the activities of these hoodlums.
The association’s boss called on the Federal and State Governments to provide enough and sophisticated security boats and arms for the safety and security of the lives of the people living in the riverine communities of the state.

Collins Barasimeye