BOAT MISHAPS: Merchant Sail Navy Writes Tinubu, Seeks Deployment to Jetties to Ensure Safety

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Following the recent boat accident in Ebu and Dzakan village in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State which claimed 103 lives, a consortium of Nigeria Seafarers under the aegis of Merchant Sail Navy has written President Bola Tinubu, seeking deployment of it’s members to jetties across Nigeria in order to ensure marine safety.

The group believes that apart from security lives and properties, the move would also create job opportunities for Seafarers and Nigerian Graduates.

The letter which was sighted by DAILY TREND was signed by the Director General of the outfit, Capt JohnLinus Okoronkwo with reference number: NIG/MSN/00174/LAG/023 and dated 16th of June 2023.

The letter is titled “REQUEST FOR DEPLOYMENT OF NIGERIA SEAFARERS TO REDUCE UNEMPLOYMENT”

It reads in part “We the Merchant Sail Navy consortium of Nigeria Seafarers (Maritime graduates and Cadets) from Federal, State and private Maritime institutions established and incorporated under the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja Nig6ena, request in this open letter for Mr. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria to deploy the Merchant Sail Navy personnels on marine safety assistance to jetties across the country which will help to create job opportunities for the Nigeria Seafarers and Nigeria Graduates.

“Your Excellency, deploying the Merchant Sail Navy personnels to jetties would help to reduce accidents on waterways, and this is one of the objectives of the body

“Relating to the boat which capsized between Ebu and Dzakan village in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara state that claimed many lives, the Merchant Sail Navy could be of help in such situations by assisting government agencies, including patrolling and issuing safety apparatus such as life jackets and life vests to the boat passengers and shall be regulating the safety apparatus to ensure when to change expired items.

“We shall take records through the manifest as data collection, including the next of kin information of the boat passengers in case of emergency as well as provide vital information to the Nigerian security forces relating to security challenges on the sea.

“The Merchant Sail Navy needs an emergency rescue speedboat for our divers unit, a beat station at the waterfront (jetty) and the support of the government in achieving this goal.

“Your Excellency, making Nigeria a safe place for her citizens, deploying the Merchant Sail Navy to jetties will also reduce the rate of unemployment in the country” it states.