By Giwa SHILE
Mr Adisa Abass, Chairman of Boat Operators in Badagry, on Wednesday bsaid the attitude of boat passengers towards the use of life jackets left much to be desired.
Abass said in Badagry that many passengers deliberately refuse to wear the jackets. “The main problem we have here is that many passengers refuse to wear life jackets and this is a major concern because it is risky when people don’t wear them when sailing.
Many of them wear life jackets after so much persuasion, but as soon as they start sailing, they remove them and place same on their laps.
“When this happens, the driver turns back to drop off such passengers, but this causes delay in the movement of our boats to the other side.
“Many of the passengers think they have to pay for the life jacket but we tell them it’s free, but still, they just don’t like wearing same and it is very alarming,” he lamented.
Abass urged the Lagos State Government to carry out more enlightenment on the advantages of wearing life jackets when travelling by water, to change the situation.
“Many people in the rural areas need to be enlightened about the importance of wearing life jackets, so as to ensure that they use it whenever they are at sea.
“The government should organise enlightenment programmes for people, especially in Badagry, as this would go a long way in ensuring that this problem is solved once and for all,” he said.
