The Federal Government has launched a Life-Jacket Initiative, urging water commuters to prioritise safety and adhere strictly to guidelines to prevent recurring boat accidents.

 Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this in a statement on Friday by the Director of Information and Communications, Anastasia Ogbonna

 Mr Oyetola was represented by Director of Marine Conservation, Innovation and Technology, Husseini Shettima, at the launch of the Life-Jacket Initiative in Taraba.

He noted that distributing lifejackets is part of the government’s continued efforts to improve safety on Nigeria’s inland waterways.

He stated, “The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, in collaboration with the Taraba State government, has taken a major step to enhance water transport safety. A crucial batch of lifejackets was officially handed over to the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Jalingo Area Office, today. This milestone marks an important phase in the ongoing campaign to reduce accidents on Taraba State’s waterways.’’ 

He emphasised that joint efforts between federal and state bodies would yield concrete, life-saving results for local water users.

Mr Oyetola explained that the jackets would improve safety for those relying on the Benue, Donga, and Taraba rivers for travel and trade.

He stressed that long-term success depended on community compliance, continuous public awareness, and strong regulatory enforcement.

The minister said that providing safety equipment such as lifejackets could significantly reduce accidents and ultimately save many lives.

(NAN)