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Northern Stakeholders Express Concern Over High Rate of Boat Capsizing – A Survey

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Concerned by the rate of boat capsizing across the country, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) said more than 200 died in boat mishaps between 2020 and 2022 in the state.

States such as Kastina, Kano, Yobe, Sokoto and Kebbi states have been experiencing boat capsizing recently due to lack of maintenance, irregular removal of weeds and wrecks as well as other impediments from the waterways.

Also lack of proper dredging and channelization of waterways and non-implementation of waterways codes are some other causes of boat capsizing.

The Public Relations Officer of the agency, Mr Ibrahim Hussaini, said that the figure was alarming, although the agency was finding ways of stemming boat mishaps on inland water ways in the state.

Hussaini said that apart from the lives lost, property worth millions of naira were also lost to the mishaps.

He said that there was the need for the Federal Government to also regulate the activities of inland water ways to ensure that only the professionals at all the water fronts supervised operators of boats, canoes and commuters.

He advised the government to subsidise prices of life jackets, make them available and make the use of the jacket compulsory in regular service of canoe and boat.

Hussaini said speed boats, construction of local canoe and boats sold at subsidised rate, installation of navigation and weather reading equipment would enable operators and other stakeholders to effectively navigate the waterways.

He also called for effective synergy between National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), on the siltation of the water ways for easy movement.

In attempts to reduce boat accidents, in 2021 the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPADEC) in collaboration with NIWA, resolved to clear trees and rocks responsible for boat mishaps along riverine areas across the country.

A representative of Kogi government, Alhaji Isah Salami during a stakeholders meeting, observed that the clearing of trees and rocks became imperative to avert boat mishaps that had claimed many lives along riverine areas in Kogi, Kwara, Niger and Kebbi.

He called on boat users to always wear safety jacket as a precautionary measure to avoid unnecessary death on waterways.

“What we want to do now is to see how we can remove some of the shrubs and trees that grow along the riverine beds so that we can avoid future boat mishaps.

“We want to also make sure the people entering the boats take precaution by wearing safety jacket, while on the boats to save life whenever such mishaps occur.

“Safety on the waterways is very important and we will not take that with levity and right now along river Niger, we are doing some survey on some of the trees we will remove.

“In view of this effort, the NIWA has also declared their readiness to break rocks that can constitute hazard to boats.

“I am advising communities along the riverine areas in Kogi to take all the necessary precautions,” he said.

In Lokoja, NIWA expressed sadness and disgust “over incessant boat mishaps on our waterways across the country.”

The spokesman of the authority, Mr Jibrin Darda’u said that the recent boat mishap in Mai-Adua Local Government Area of Katsina in which 15 persons died was unacceptable.

“We are greatly pained that these mishaps are still occurring, in spite of all the measures the authority has put in place to forestall such mishaps.

“Only recently, the authority distributed life jackets and some patrol vessels to all our area offices across the country to enhance surveillance and monitoring of activities on the waterways across the country.

“NIWA as a regulatory agency will ensure that passengers and boat drivers obey the rules and guidelines regulating passenger transportation on the waterways.

“We shall also ensure strict use of life jackets, ban on sailing at night, the use of standard boats and not overloading the boats as our key guidelines for safe passenger transportation.

“Life is precious, so NIWA shall in no way relent on its efforts to curb these unfortunate and painful occurrences within our inland waterways.”

However, some stakeholders proffered solution to the problem, citing overcrowding of boats and a lack of passenger safety rules, among other causes of boat mishaps on Nigeria’s waterways.

In Adamawa, the Maritime Union Workers of Nigeria, Adamawa chapter appealed to the state government to provide the union with speed boats and life jackets for emergency response against boat capsizing to save lives and property.

Alhaji Mahmud Abdullahi, the chapter Chairman made the plea to NAN.

He said that providing speed boats would enable them to double efforts in monitoring activities in the riverine areas of the state.

According to him, this will also complement their efforts against boat capsizing in the state that have been claiming lives and property of people.

He said that the union was doing its best to curb high cases of boat mishap by ensuring that there were no overloading and  that every boat had spare engines in case of mechanical problems among others. (NAN)

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Environment

Erosion Control Project: Gombe SEC Approves N389m Compensation for Residents

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The Gombe State Executive Council (SEC) has approved payment of N389 million as compensation for residents that would be affected by the gully erosion control project at Federal College of Education (FCE) Technical and its surrounding communities.

The Commissioner for Finance, Gombe State, Malam Mohammed Magaji, stated this at the end of the SEC meeting on Friday in Gombe.

Magaji said the payment, which would commence immediately, would be for individuals and organisations along the gully erosion site.

He said almost 1000 persons were expected to benefit from the gesture.

According to him, the compensation is part of the requirements of the World Bank, which specifies that such payments be made to property owners.

Magaji said the payment would also be made to ensure seamless resettlement of affected persons.

“The beneficiaries are in hundreds, almost a 1,000 people; there is compensation for houses, and also for business premises.

“There is also stipends for the elderly living around that area so that they are able to have good livelihood,” he said.

The commissioner for Education, Hajiya Aishatu Maigari, also said the SEC approved upgrade of the five mega senior secondary schools in the state to sustain improvement in the education sector.

Maigari said the upgrade would be carried out based on the needs of each of the schools.

She stated that infrastructure in some of the schools were already being upgraded to global standards.

“We have seen construction of toilets, installation of solar-powered light, construction of roads, school clinics, boreholes and many more,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government had on Nov. 23 signed a N12 billion contract with Triacta Nigeria Ltd. for a 21-kilometre gully erosion control work in six communities within Gombe metropolis.

The project is under ACRESAL project, a World Bank-assisted project to address the challenges of land degradation and climate change in northern Nigeria. (NAN)

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Environment

Fire Razes Household Properties Estimated at Millions of Naira

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The Ebonyi Fire Service, on Tuesday confirmed that a fire incident destroyed properties estimated at millions of naira at the residence of Mr Chris Uchaji, a former commissioner in the state.

Mr Raphael Ibiam, the Chief Fire Officer of the agency, said that the inferno was suspected to have been caused by an electrical spark within the building.

He explained that the fire razed valuable household properties in three rooms of the storey building.

He said no life was lost in the incident as his men responded promptly and was later assisted by the Federal Fire Service.

“At about 0800 hours, there was a fire outbreak at 13 Lawrence Ónór street, off Nna street.

“It destroyed properties in a storey building belonging to Mr Chris Uchaji, a Former State Commissioner for Solid Mineral Development,” Ibiam said.

Uchaji told newsmen shortly after the incident, that he was at the stadium with his wife for morning exercise when he received a distress call from his security man that his family house was on fire.

“We quickly rushed to the scene, only to see many people on a rescue mission as the whole house had been engulfed.

“I suspected it was due to an electrical spark and it started in my wife’s room, where my six-year-old daughter was sleeping.

“The intensity of the fire was high and it spread to other rooms, causing massive damage, but thank God no life was lost.

“I thank God for people’s goodwill and the fire service. Though the state fire service came here, their water finished early, but with the intervention of federal firefighters, they were able to control the fire.” Uchaji said.(NAN)

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Environment

Nigeria’s NGO Takes Plights of Local Communities to COP28

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Connected Advocacy for Empowerment and Youth Development, a Nigeria-based NGO, has called for the involvement of local communities in decision-making on climate solutions in order to build a sense of responsibility and unity.

Mr Israel Orekha, Executive Director of the NGO, made the call on Monday in his address at a side event organised at the ongoing COP28 in Dubai.

“The event is themed “Putting Local Community First in Climate Agenda.

’’

Orekha advocated policy changes that incentivised and prioritised sustainable practices at the local and national levels

According to him, empowering communities through participation will ensure that solutions align with local needs.

He also called for inclusive policies that addressed both environmental and social aspects of clean energy transitions.

The executive director particularly canvassed for the consideration of local community in the clean energy transition plan.

The local community, he said, needed clean energy transition parks and not false solutions.

“Clean energy transition parks not only combat climate change but also strengthen community resilience.

“Local involvement in these parks is key to addressing pressing environmental challenges.

“Beyond jobs, clean energy engagement enhances community knowledge about sustainable practices.

“Involving communities in clean energy decisions fosters responsibility and unity.

“Local job opportunities and skill development can result from participation in the renewable energy sector.”

Orekha also underscored the importance of transparency in decision-making processes so as to discern genuine solutions from greenwashing.

“False solutions can perpetuate environmental injustice, disproportionately affecting marginalised communities.

“False solutions, like greenwashing, hinder genuine progress.

“Thorough research and community input are essential for sustainable solutions,’’ he said.

Reports says that clean energy parks are separate areas used and planned for the purpose of clean energy development, like wind and solar generation facilities.(NAN)

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