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Oil Firms Donate 2,400 Life Jackets To LASG

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11 years ago

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Governor Akinwunmi
Ambode of Lagos State has taken delivery of 2, 400 life jackets donated by three oil companies to enhance safety on waterways in the state.
The Tide source  reports that the jackets were donated by Total Nigeria Ltd., Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Emo Exploration and Production Ltd.
The jackets were presented to the governor at a ceremony at the Governor’s Office at Alausa, Ikeja.
The items include 1, 800 jackets for children and 600 for adults.
Represented by his Deputy, Dr Oluranti Adebule, the governor commended the companies for supporting the government.
“I commend your efforts in ensuring that we have safety on our waterways.
“The 2,400 life jackets that you are presenting to us is appreciated, we assure you that we are going to distribute them to those who need them.
“We are also going to ensure compliance because it is one thing to distribute them, it is another thing to use them effectively,” Ambode said.
The governor charged the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) to ensure that necessary measures were taken to put the jackets to effective use.
Ambode also urged the oil firms to continue to partner with the state, commending them for previous supports to the security trust fund, ministry of health and other agencies.
“I am also using this opportunity to call on other corporate organisations to emulate what Total has done.
“Look at what aspect of government your organisation is interested in and support the State Government.
“This is because we recognise the fact that we alone cannot do it. It is by this kind of collaboration and partnership that we will achieve all that we hope to do,” he said.
The Deputy Managing Director of Total, Mr Charles Ngoka, said the gesture was part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.
“Total as a responsible company takes the issue of health and safety and environment seriously and our company has been partnering with various agencies of government.
“Issues of marine security and safety have been of concern to us as well as the issue of integrity of boats.
“It is in this light we alongside other partners are donating 2,400 life jackets to Lagos State Government.
“We trust that you will ensure strict compliance in the usage as this will go a long way to ensuring safety on waterways,” Ngoka said.
Mr Jonathan Okehs, the Group General Manager of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), the corporate services unit of NNPC, said that the gesture was to complement government’s efforts on safety.
Okehs, who was represented by Mrs Helen Nkwo, Public Affairs Supervisor of NAPIMS, said that safety of users of waterways was paramount to the organisation.
“The donation of 2,400 to LASWA is a demonstration of commitment to the aspirations of the Lagos State Government to develop marine transportation.
“I strongly believed that if our waterways are developed and effectively utilized, it will alleviate the suffering of commuters in the state.
“We want to enhance the safety of commuters on waterways while on board,” Okehs said.
Dennis Otsemobor of Emo Exploration and Production Ltd., said: “we are aware of the recent happenings on the waterways that is why we partner with other stakeholders to contribute our quota to ensure safety on waterways.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Managing Director of LASWA, Mr Yinka Marinho, said it had become compulsory for every boat operator to comply with safety standards on waterways.
Marinho said that the distribution of life jackets would promote safe and responsible boating, stressing that the company had not relented in educating and promoting safety through advocacy.
“To date, 3,500 life jackets have been donated by the State Government across the entire length and breadth of the state from Badagry to Ikorodu to Epe and others.
“The current drive is aimed at children as Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd is donating 2,400 life jackets with 1,800 for children ranging from ages three to 15.”
According to him, it takes 60 seconds for an adult to drown and 20 seconds for a child.
He said that the children’s jackets were designed in accordance with their weight.
Marinho said that LASWA would intensify enforcement of the use of the jackets on waterways.

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Association Woos Govt, Coys On  Boat Operators  Employments

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23 hours ago

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June 12, 2026

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The leadership of Bonny Maritime Boat Association has called on Rivers state Government and oil companies operating in the state to provide sustainable employment to unemployed boat Operators.
The Association also want the government, companies and other relevant employers of labour to provide trainings for boat Operators to enhance their skills
Safety Officer of the Association, Comrade Kingdom Kingsley made this known in  a  telephone interview with  The Tide.
He noted that most of the boat Operators and owners plying Bonny route lacks jobs due to the fleets of boats introduced by Bonny Road Transport that had taken over the passengers to the Island
He noted that passengers are no longer patronizing boats owned by the Association, thereby rendering the operators redundant
“Most of our operators can not afford to feed their families due to no jobs, we don’t want to indulge in crime, government should fix our members with  sustainable jobs to take care of their immediate needs”
He called on oil companies operating in the state to engage their skilled boat Operators in their companies to reduce the sufferings faced by the Association.
The Safety Officer called on the state government  to made funds available to unemployed youths in the state to start up business than roam the streets.
He noted that provision of funds to youths would reduce crime rates and reposition their mindsets for a better life
“The  youths of Rivers state are suffering, have no job to feed their families, thereby indulging in criminality daily”
“The youths need empowerment,  jobs,  recreational facilities and better things of life as citizens of this Nation”, Kingsley said.
CHINEDU WOSU
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FG Approves $1 Bn AFCFTA Credit Facility For Nigerian Exporters

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24 hours ago

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June 12, 2026

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The Federal Government has approved a whooping $1bn credit facility to support Nigerian exporters and small scale businesses to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in order to boost production, competitiveness and intra-African trade.
The $1bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility is also expected to address some of the financing gap being faced by Nigerian exporters and enhance the competitiveness of African businesses within the continental market.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, disclosed this  during the second quarter 2026 meeting of the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee held in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the ministry’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Obilor-Duru Okechi, Oduwole said the financing facility represented a major opportunity for Nigerian businesses seeking to expand operations, modernise production processes and increase exports to African markets.
The statement partly read, “?The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating Nigeria’s export-led growth agenda under the African Continental Free Trade Area, unveiling opportunities for businesses to access a US$1 billion AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility aimed at boosting production, competitiveness, and intra-African trade.”
She noted that despite the progress Nigeria had made in implementing the continental trade agreement, many local businesses continued to face obstacles that limited their ability to take advantage of the single African market.
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“Many businesses still face challenges relating to export documentation, certification, standards compliance and market access,” the minister said.
She explained that the Federal Government was addressing these bottlenecks through enhanced trade facilitation measures, simplified AfCFTA guidance tools, stakeholder engagement programmes and stronger collaboration with institutions such as the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
Oduwole stressed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s legal and regulatory framework by domesticating key AfCFTA protocols, particularly the Digital Trade Protocol, to position the country as a major player in Africa’s growing digital economy.
The minister also highlighted some of the gains recorded in Nigeria’s AfCFTA implementation efforts.
According to her, the expansion of Nigeria’s Air Cargo Corridor Initiative to Rwanda, increased collaboration with development partners and private sector players, as well as sustained engagement with state governments, were helping to deepen awareness and participation in the continental market.
In her welcome address and first-quarter update, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Mrs Patience Okala, provided details of the financing initiative.
Okala said the $1bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility was targeted at large African businesses with a minimum financing capacity of $10m.
She revealed that the National AfCFTA Coordination Office was working closely with fund managers to facilitate access for eligible Nigerian companies and had begun assembling a pilot group of businesses to ensure that Nigeria maximised the opportunities provided by the facility.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NIWA Harps On  Avoidance Of Leaking Boats

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24 hours ago

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June 12, 2026

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The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has advised Nigerians against boarding boats that require constant bailing of water in the interest of their safety.
 NIWA Area Manager for Cross River and Ebonyi, Mr Stanley Onuoha gave this warning in an interview with Newsmen in Calabar.
Onuoha who spoke on waterway
safety, said that passengers should take responsibility for their safety by inspecting boats before embarking on any journey.
According to him, repeated scooping of water from a boat is a clear indication that the vessel may be leaking.
“If you are entering a boat and see people using a bailer to remove water, it is the first signal that the boat is leaking,” he said.
He urged passengers to check the integrity of boats, including seating arrangements and other visible safety features.
The Manager restated the importance of using safety jackets, saying that damaged jackets may fail during emergencies.
He further said that passengers should ensure that safety jackets were appropriate for their body sizes in order to guarantee effective flotation.
 Onuoha reiterated the need for passengers to fill manifests before departure to aid accountability during emergencies.
The NIWA official further advised travellers to monitor weather conditions and avoid boarding boats when the weather is unfavourable.
According to him, poor weather conditions can trigger strong tidal waves capable of affecting small boats commonly used on inland waterways.
He said that waterway journeys should be embarked upon between 6.00a.m and 6.00p.m for clearer visibility.
Onuoha said  the Authority had continued to sensitise riverine communities to the need for safety precautions during waterway journeys.
He stated that sustained awareness campaigns and enforcement measures had contributed to safety waterway safety in Cross River.
CHINEDU WOSU
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