Gov. Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has inaugurated the first-ever marine transport service in the state, with a call on passengers and boat crew to adhere strictly to safety standards.
The inauguration took place on Tuesday at Kupto, Funakaye Local Government Area, along the Upper River Gongola.
Yahaya, represented by the Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transportation, Engr. Usman Maijama’a Kallamu, charged passengers not to board boats without life jackets and urged operators to avoid night travels.
He said the modern boat, provided by the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), should be judiciously utilized to guarantee safe travels.
The governor further assured that more boats would be provided for Kupto and other riverbank communities, reiterating his administration’s commitment to harnessing all modes of transportation for the benefit of citizens.
In a goodwill message, the N-HYPPADEC State Coordinator, Dr Ibrahim Baba Ibrahim, represented by Abdullahi Muhammad, said the provision of the modern boat and more than 700 life jackets was part of the commission’s commitment to passenger safety.
Similarly, the Manager of the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Gombe-Yola Area Office, Nana Asma’u Jika, represented by Dahiru Inuwa, highlighted standard safety protocols and the importance of proper use of life jackets.
“In case of a boat mishap, passengers wearing life jackets can stay afloat for up to six hours while awaiting rescue,” she said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Funakaye Local Government Area, Alhaji Shuaibu Abdulrahman, represented by his deputy, Hon. Umaru Busum, alongside traditional rulers from Kupto and Mainoma, Yobe State, commended the state government and stakeholders for the initiative.
They assured that the new boat would be properly maintained and safety guidelines strictly observed.
Malam Usman Ali, Sarkin Ruwan Kupto, described the inauguration as a turning point in the history of water transportation in Gombe State, stressing that it would reduce mishaps and improve safety on waterways.
