The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boats

  • Sokoto distributes 22 boats to enhance transportation

    Sokoto distributes 22 boats to enhance transportation

    Sokoto State Government has provided 22 boats to enhance inland water transportation in the state, an official said on Tuesday.

    Alhaji Ibrahim Dingyadi, Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto, that the initiative was also ensure safety on the water ways.

    He said: “It was part of efforts of the government on disaster management and to safeguard people’s lives.

    “A case of boat mishap occurred last year at Gandi community in Raba Local Government Area where a girl died while traders were being transported to a nearby market.

    “Governor Aminu Tambuwal responded promptly in buying 22 boats and distributed them to communities using water transportation to get to various destinations.

    “The gesture is to forestall future occurrence and safeguard people’s lives; it was well appreciated by the communities.’’

    NAN reports that eight of the boats were released to Goronyo, four to Silame and 10 to Raba local council.

    The D-G explained that the agency has embarked on massive public enlightenment on disaster prevention, control and management to reduce the rate of disasters in the state.

    Dingyadi recalled that the government had in 2017 set up a high-powered disaster response committee headed by the State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu.

    According to him, the committee had helped in mobilising residents to respond to environmental issues and facilitated the recruitment of 550 environmental sanitation workers in Sokoto metropolis.

    The D-G said the agency is working closely with the State and Federal Fire Services, NEMA, Red Cross Society, religious groups and Non Government Organizations and agencies involved in disaster management.

    He urged the people to support government policies on environmental management and report any unforeseen circumstances for quick intervention.

  • Five corpses found as migrant boats sink off Libya

    Five migrants were found dead in the sea off Libya on Thursday after the boats they were travelling in sank, likely carrying hundreds more to their deaths, an aid organisation said.

    Proactiva Open Arms, one of several groups operating in the area, said it was notified that an inflatable boat was sinking and found another going down shortly afterwards.

    “We brought on board five corpses recovered from the sea, but no lives. It is a harsh reality check of the suffering here that is invisible in Europe’’, the group wrote on Facebook.

    Given the size of the boats, which are often packed with people by smugglers in Libya, there were probably more than 100 people in each, Proactiva spokeswoman Laura Lanuza said.

    A spokesperson for Italy’s coast guard, which coordinates and participates in rescues, confirmed the five bodies were on board Proactiva’s ship, the Golfo Azzurro, which he said would remain in the area in case of any emergency calls.

    A rising number of migrants are attempting to cross the central Mediterranean this year after a deal between the European Union and Turkey largely shut down a route to Greece.

    A total of 559 deaths have been recorded in the Mediterranean so far this year, according to the International Organisation for Migration. About 5,000 were recorded for the whole of 2016.

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  • Navy intercepts barge, boats laden with stolen oil

    Navy intercepts barge, boats laden with stolen oil

    • Arrests two suspects

    The Central Naval Command in the Niger Delta region has intercepted a barge and five wooden boats loaded with 600,000 metric tons of illegally refined crude oil.

    It was gathered the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS), Soroh, conducted the operation that led to the arrest of the barge christened, Merchant Vessel (MV) CHUZY1, at Beama community, Nembe Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

    The Commander, NNS Soroh, Commodore Habib Usman, who confirmed the operation yesterday, said the barge and the boats were laden with a product suspected to be Automated Gas Oil (AGO).

    He said two suspects identified as Chibueze Patrick and one Toyin were also apprehended during the raid.

    Soroh said: “The Navy will continue to uphold the tenets of zero tolerance against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering and other sundry crimes in the Niger Delta Region.”

    He said the wooden boats were allegedly used to convey the product from the illegal refining point to the barge for loading.

    He added: “The wooden boats were suspected to be used to convey the illegally refined Automated Gas Oil from the refining points to the barge for loading.

    “As of the time of the arrest one of the boats had finished trans-loading its product into the barge.

    “Consequently, the personnel of Forward Operating Base FORMOSO with own gunboats and tug boat towed the barge to own jetty for further investigation.

     

     

    “However, the wooden boats were destroyed. Also the two suspects are in custody for preliminary investigation and prosecution”.

  • Joy, glamour as teachers get boats

    Joy, glamour as teachers get boats

    It was a day joy and fun for the teachers in Oriade Local Development Area and Amuwo Odofin  Local Government  Area  in Lagos. After years of yearning for modern  boats for ease of transpo-ration, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode  provided  them with four  speed boats that can carry 10 passengers.

    Inaugurating the boats,  Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs & Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Lola Akande, said  the project is part of commemoration of his first year in office.

    ‘‘In my inaugural speech of may 29, 2015, I promised to run an open government of inclusion that will not leave anyone behind. I promised that no matter your  age, sex tribe or any other status, as long as you reside in Lagos. We will make Lagos work for you.

    ‘‘This administration is focused on the people of Lagos and providing community driven development. ‘‘We have therefore improved on our security apparatus, intensified the provision of infrastructure to ensure an enabling environment for a viable and vibrant 24-hour economy.

    ‘‘The commissioning of these projects today rightly undercores our philosophy of inclusion.

    ‘‘Several roads and drainage projects have been embarked upon to make life easier and more business friendly for our people. We have invested a lot in the areas of education with provision of classrooms and classroom furniture; healthcare with the provision of ambulances and other equipment Centers, Security with the equipping of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies. The state has experienced improved physical and urban development, proper land administration and the illumination of our highways and streets.

    ‘‘I enjoin our royal fathers ,traditional chiefs, community development associations in our various communities to address the menace of cultism, miscreants and hoodlums and promote peace and clean environment at all times.

    ‘‘We are committed to a safe, secure, clean community. I therefore urge our community leaders, CDA and citizens of Lagos to continue to be security–conscious at all times.

    ‘‘You should also fulfill your civic responsibilities then the government is able to provide more infrastructure and better amenities for you .Government would therefore be able to sustain the socio-economic growth and transformation now being witness in our State.

    ‘‘Let me appeal to our elders, the youths and indeed the entire residents to guard jealously the infrastructure provided by the Government so that more projects can come to your communities again.

    ‘‘In conclusion , I thank you all and appreciate your belief in our administration as well as acknowledge the collective effort of the state and Local Government as well citizens in the development of our state.”

    The Executive Secretary, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, Hon. Modupe Ajibola-Ojodu, said: “We are proud to be part of this historic event that will go down in history as one of the greatest achievements of His Excellency.”

    The Executive Secretary Oriade Local Government Area, Hon.Bola Badmus-Olujobi, thanked the governor for  his achievements.

    The Education Secretary, Local Government Education Authority Amowo-Odofin/Oriade Local Development Area, Mrs. Atinuke Ogundiyi, expressed gratitude to the governor for the gesture.

     

  • Navy recovers two boats, several kegs from vandals

    Navy recovers two boats, several kegs from vandals

    Operativesof the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT has recovered two wooden boats and several kegs, hosts used by pipeline vandals around the Badagry creeks.

    This recovery, the third within a month around Lagos waters was secured during a raid of the riverine areas around Badagry and Seme border.

    According to the Commander NNS BEECROFT, Commordore Abraham Adaji the navy observed that series of illegal bunkering activities have been going on at the border towns between Nigeria and Cotonou, particularly around Badagry.

    He said: “It is in view of this that Naval patrol team from NNS Beecroft were sent to Seme border and they intercepted these two wooden boats while on their way to carry out their nefarious activities.

    “Upon sighting the navy boats, the criminals jumped overboard, abandoning their materials which included Outboard Engines, several Hoses, 200 litres of drums and 25 litres of jerry cans. There were also few lube oils, and pumping machines which were all recovered from the boats.”

     

  • Army seizes boats, N3.4m diesel in Rivers

    The Operation Pulo Shield (OPS) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, have seized 2.3 million litres of allegedly stolen diesel worth N3.45 million from an illegal bunker.

    The petroleum product was siphoned from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines.

    Maj.-Gen. Alani Okunlola, the Commander of Operations of OPS, formerly known as the Joint Task Force (JTF), addressed reporters yesterday at Tamunotonye Ama in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    Okunlola said two suspected oil thieves were arrested at the bunker, while several equipment used by the operators of the illegal bunker were seized during the raid.

    He said: “On September 23, troops of Sector 2 of OPS of 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt stormed Tamunotonye-Ama community and discovered a large bunkering site, which operated illegally.

    “The troops, during the raid, discovered and seized eight large metal badges laden with stolen Automated Gas Oil (AGO), commonly referred to as diesel; another 23 empty barges were also seized.

    “Two of the eight metal badges have estimated capacity of seven tanker trucks each.”

    The OPS commander told reporters that other items found at the site included 44 large plastic tanks, 22 illegal pumping dumps, 18 pumping machines, three speedboats, two outboard engines and a lengthy hose.

    He added that 19 storage tanks filled with stolen crude oil were also seized from the site during the operation.

    Okunlola said: “Two suspects in our custody will be interrogated, while the barges have been towed to Ogoloma Jetty in Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers State.”

    The commander said investigation into the activities of the operators of the illegal bunkers had begun.

    He said the investigation would show how they operated in the area without being detected.

    Okunlola noted that under his command, the OPS had increased the frequency of raids in a bid to end oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta.

    The site is located near the Onne Sea Port and the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone where several multinational oil and gas companies are operating.

  • 90 per cent of boats in Nigeria are Tokumbo

    About 90 per cent of boats in Nigeria are used boats, otherwise called Tokumbo in the local parlance, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Bras Marine and Yacht Services Limited, Mr. Abayomi Sonuga, has said.

    Speaking on the sideline of the first ‘Annual Boat and Yacht Exhibition at Bay Lounge, Lekki, Lagos,  Sonuga said the company is poised to ensure that Bras Marine and Yacht Services’ clients, have access to brand new boats and cruisers, with top class after sales services and genuine spare parts.

    He said this was why the company, which started operations a year and half ago, focusing on the sale, lease, and servicing of luxury boats and cruisers in Nigeria, signed a partnership deal with Sea Ray Marine, a Knoxville, US-based globally renowned luxury boat and yacht builder with 30 per cent market share.

    Sonuga, who described Sea Ray as “a good technical partner,” said the US firm has encouraged Bras Marine by offering it incentives to make it competitive. “It is those incentives that we are passing on to consumers that these boats are cheaper than bringing in used boats,” he said, adding that the partnership also gives his company access to genuine parts and accessories produced by Brunswick Marine, makers of Mercury engines.

    Brunswick Marine owns Mercury and Sea Ray. Sea Ray, part of the partnership, has sent a technical personnel who is on ground to train Nigerians. “It’s cheaper for us if they train us here on ground than having to always fly out for trainings. They will also train quartermasters; those are the people we call captains in Nigeria to drive boats,” Sonuga explained.

    The Chairman said apart from selling luxury boats and cruisers, “We also intend to go into marine transport. We are also looking at patrol boats for our Police, the Navy, and oil & gas companies, including those who want to use it for celebrations or take their families out for a weekend.” He said having announced its arrival in Lagos, the company plans to expand to Port Harcourt, River State, before ultimately hitting the West African market.