The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has donated helmets, rain coats, lifebuoys and other items that support safety both on the roads and waterways to commercial motorcycle riders, popularly known as Okada, and commercial boat pilots in Bonny Island.

This is the fallout of a discussion involving two staff of the NLNG, Iwokiri Aprioku and Nelson Braide, Senior Engagement Officer and Community Engagement Officer, respectively, who mooted the idea that it had become necessary to provide commercial transporters with these items and avail them trainings in safety compliance.

Against the backdrop of incidents involving either commercial motorcycle riders or speedboat pilots, stakeholders were of the view that for the lives of passengers to be safe, these operators of the system need to know and be aware of the implications of non-adherence to safety rules.

Aprioku and Braide pointed out that beyond rhetoric, there was the need to also provide them with the tools to do the needful in addition to sensitization and to this idea their company obliged by making the provision, which Kristina Reports learnt is a continuation of what started years back after the referenced discussion.

It was no surprise then that the duo must have escalated this discussion to their company management where pro-development guys like Charles Epelle; Manager, Community Relations, his predecessor, Godson Dienye, and the past and incumbent General Managers, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Eyono Fatayi-Williams and Andy Odeh must have given the nod to give life to it.

Checks by Kristina Reports reveal that the key issue is that this has the potential of ensuring that operators of the transportation system in Bonny Island are not only aware of but have the wherewithal to safeguard themselves and passengers.

As if to indicate their long yearning for the donated items, the Okada riders and boat pilots turned en masse to receive the items, while expressing appreciation to the company for the good gesture.

Chairman of Bony LGA, Dame Anengi Claude-Wilcox, represented by the Secretary to the Bonny Local Government Council, Ralph Jamaica while thanking the NLNG for the gesture, disclosed that the registration of Okada riders, calling on the beneficiaries to make good use of the items, stressing that the Council would continue to insist on best practices in the transportation sector.

Speaking, Head of Operations of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Bonny LGA, James Udoh, who is also the Chief Route Commander (CRC), urged the transporters to be law abiding, advising them to also be wary of over-speeding, especially during the rainy season, insisting that they must wear their safety gears at all times.

Secretary of the Bonny Marine Transport Association (BMTA), Gladys Pepple thanked the NLNG for the items donated, acknowledging the receipt of 250 packs of highly reflective life-vests and 20 packs of raincoats, adding “we just want to say thank you and God bless you in Jesus name”.

On its part, the Nigeria LNG, through its representative, Faith Wey said the donation was part of its Health, Safety and Environment Week in collaboration with the community, appealing to the beneficiaries to utilize the items donated to ensure their safety while on the road or at sea, enjoining them to keep it clean and refuse the temptation to sell them.

With concerns being raised over the conduct of transporters, especially, Okada riders in the island, this intervention by the Nigeria LNG is viewed as apt and timely. Stakeholders describe the move by the company as consistent with its policy thrust of ensuring safety at work and intentional reduction of lost time incidents at its operational environments.