The Chairman of Degema Local Government Area, Tony Philmore has blamed the Bakana Boat Mishap with 24 passengers on board which occurred on Saturday, July 28 on lack of compliance to the necessary safety measures by boat drivers.
Tony Philmore made this known after briefing the press about plans by his administration to set up a health, safety and security task force to ensure that the ugly incident of July 28th does not occur again.
“Safety procedures should always be observed, just so to forestall reoccurrence.
“This health safety and security task force that will be put in place, they will be well trained, they will be trained to carry out health standards, safety standards and even security standards so that the waterways will be safe.
“You cannot go and drink alcohol or use hard Drugs and go and man engines. We would no longer allow that. All of these things fall on the services of this task force and I’m sure that they will deliver.
In a related development, the Chairman of Bakana boat operators, Okorite Isaac has called on the Local Government Area to provide more lifejackets to ensure the safety of those plying the waterways.
He also blamed the dumping of plastic waste (Pure water nylons, water bottles) as the major cause of boat Mishaps, as they most times hook the engines of the boats, and called for cleaning of the waterways.
