The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, (MWUN), Rivers State Branch, has called on the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to provide life jackets to its members for safety.
MWUN said the provision of life jackets would save lives and enhance maritime activities in the state.
Chairman, MWUN, Rivers State, Comrade Jonah Jumbo, disclosed this during an interview with The Tide, in Port Harcourt.
He noted that the provision of life jackets to the union would also reduce carnage in the waterways and make traveling in water more comfortable.
Comrade Jonah insisted that most jetties in the state lack life saving vests, thereby making traveling in rivers more risky and difficult.
According to him, Bonny, Andoni, Kula Bakana and Billie jetties lack comfortable life vests for travellers.
MWUN called on the management of NIMASA to partner with the body to improve maritime activities in the state as well as create jobs for seafarers.
He also decried the dilapidated state of the jetties across the state and appealed to the Agency to improve on the facilities to enhance water transportation.
Jonah alleged that NIMASA has not impacted positively in the lives of the people of the riverine communities in Rivers State, especially in the area of youth empowerment.
“NIMASA and its leadership should encourage our people and improve their lives by empowering them with positive skills that would transform their lives and not politics”, he said.