Over 500 boat operators have been trained on maritime safety in Lagos.
The training was organised by the Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited to promote safety around the port areas and at sea.
Addressing the operators, Total Deputy Managing Director, Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Ahmadu-Kida Musa said they must know what to do when they are trading along the channel where big vessels are also operating.
The objective of the training, according to him, is to reduce accidents on Lagos waters and across the country.
Musa, represented by the General Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, CRS, Dr. Nkoyo Attah, said Total decided to implement the marine awareness campaign to enlighten the operators and promote safety at sea.
“The campaign focuses on safety which is our core value to us at Total, but it is also a demonstration of our commitment to promoting safety best practices, environmental protection, business ethics and corporate social responsibility everywhere we work.
“In the course of doing business, Total has deliberately fashioned out some initiatives which are aimed at giving back to the Nigerian society and this maritime awareness campaign is one of such initiatives.”
The guest speaker, Mr. Felix Nlerum disclosed that 80 per cent of boat accidents were caused by human error, adding that most times these accidents were avoidable.
Some of the stakeholders, who spoke with The Nation after the training, hailed Total for its efforts. They urged the company to focus its next training programme on midstream transfer of passengers by boat operators and the need for them to move away from the channel leading to the port to stem the cycle of criminalities around the area.
One of the operators, Mr Joseph Adewale thanked the company for the knowledge impacted on them.
About 150 fire extinguishers were given freely to the operators by the Total to reduce fire accident while embarking on their trade.