KOREDE DAMIFOGO
Maritime Workers Union Of Nigeria (MWUN) and Boat operators have showered encomium on the Acting Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron, Dr Kevin Okonna, over the donation of life jackets to operators and users at Oron Beach, Akwa Ibom State.
BUSINESSINSIDERNG reports that the Academy had, on Monday, organised a sensitisation and awareness campaign for boat operators and users against incessant boat mishaps on the nation’s waterways.
The Safety Awareness Workshop titled, ‘Harnessing the Opportunities of Marine and Blue Economy with Safety of Inland Waterways in Perspective’, was organised by the Academy.
Speaking to newsmen, the MWUN, Akwa Ibom State chapter, appreciated the sensitization and awareness workshop saying it will go a long way in reducing mishaps on the inland waterways.
According to MWUN Secretary, Akwa Ibom State, Com. Sunday Edidiong, the sensitisation program was the first in the history of the academy.
“I appreciate the Acting Rector. This laudable initiative has never happened before. We have so many Rectors that have come and gone, but this sensitisation program is good news to us. This program is what we have been expecting. We have expected it a long time ago.
Now, the Rector also donated 25 life jackets and promised to do more. It will alleviate the situation, and sincerely, it is a good move that will better transform the inland waterways sub-sector in the country,” the union leader said.
Also speaking, the unit Chairman, MWUN, Aqua Jetty, Oron Beach, Akwa Ibom, Com. Efe Ongbete explained the importance of the sensitisation workshop, saying the boat operators haven’t seen such a sensitisation workshop in a long while.
“Since we started operating here, we have not seen this kind of sensitization. MAN Oron is the first institution and Dr Okonna is the first Rector to organize this for us. We hope they can increase the number of life jackets for us,” he urged.
Com. Ongbete, however, called on the government to ensure constant sensitisation of boat operators and skippers across the country to forestall mishaps on the nation’s Inland waterways.