The National President of Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association of Nigeria Waters (WABOTAN), Comrade Babatope Fajemirokun aka SIMTOP commiserates with the affected families and Kwara State government over the saddened reports of a boat mishap which occurred at the Pategi Local Government Area of the State.
According to the reports, over 100 people lost their lives in the boat mishap.
In an official statement signed by the WABOTAN National Public Relations Officer, Chief Raymond Gold which was made available to our correspendent noted that stakeholders in the water transport sector in Nigeria have been committed to playing their role in the needed efforts to transform the water transport sector.
Comrade Fajemirokun however enjoined all stakeholders in the water transport sector to ensure they do not relent in strict adherence to safety and security measures to forestall such mishaps.
He further noted that the trainings usually organised by the association in collaboration and partnership with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, has contributed to Lagos State recording immense improvement on safety on her waterways.
The National President however informed that its next capacity building and safety training program will come up in Lagos by November adding that efforts to extend this training to Kwara State and other States across the country are underway.
“The National President, Comrade Babatope Fajemirokun aka SIMTOP and entire members of Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association of Nigeria Waters (WABOTAN), are deeply saddened by the reports of a boat mishap, which occurred at the Pategi Local Government Area of Kwara State, in which over 100 people lost their lives.
“Our hearts go out to the affected families, the government and good people of Kwara State over this painful incident.
“As stakeholders in the water transport sector in Nigeria, we have been committed to playing our role in the needed efforts to transform the water transport sector and the strict adherence to safety and security measures to forestall such mishaps. This has formed part of our core objectives which is, training and retraining of boat captains and deck hands, to build capacity and ensure safety and security on our waterways.
“This training, which we usually do in collaboration and partnership with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, has contributed to Lagos State recording immense improvement on safety on her waterways.
“Our next capacity building and safety training program comes up this November in Lagos and we are making efforts to extend this training to Kwara State and other States across the country where water transportation has been embraced as a means of moving people and goods from one place to another” it noted.
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