The Bonny Kingdom Development Committee (BKDC) has commended Evomec Global Services Limited for donating 300 life vests for the use of travelers, saying it’s a demonstration of the company’s commitment to the safety of lives of travelers.

Chairman of the BKDC, Amairigha Hart gave this commendation on Friday, April 26, 2024 while receiving the life vests from Evomec’s representatives at the Coal Beach, Bonny.

Hart, who was represented by two members of the BKDC, Biekpo Chapp-Jumbo and Carol Allison, later presented the 300 life vests to the Interim Management Committee of the Bonny marine transport system.

“We thank you for your thoughtfulness and good gesture towards Bonny Kingdom. We receive these life vest on behalf of Bonny Kingdom Development Committee and hand it over to the Local Government through the committee.”

“This is good corporate social responsibility by Evomec and we commend you and urge you to do more. Also, the interim committee please make good use of the life vests for the safety of lives of our people.”

Earlier, Team Lead of the Evomec delegation, Emmanuel Wilcox, had while making the presentation stated that his company was concerned the safety of travelers utilizing the Bonny waterways, noting that the gesture was a show of empathy towards the victims of the recent boat mishap.

He assured that Evomec would continue to perform its corporate social responsibility in its operational environment, as well pursue good causes for the betterment of the people. 

Receiving the life vests, Chairman of the Interim Management Committee (IMC), Osobonye Longjohn expressed gratitude to EGSL for its good gesture, pointing out that the new vests would assuage the pressure of inadequate number of life vests available for passenger’ use.

“As a committee set up by the Chairman of Bonny LGA, we’re happy; indeed, we’re not surprised because Evomec, as a company, has been community-friendly ever since they came into the island.”  

“So, we are happy because we were set up not quite long and then the pressure we are getting due to the shortage of life vests is overwhelming.”

“When we came on board we had to condemn all the old vests that are not safe for use any more. Then the ones that are safe were few.  So, we get pressure from the passengers but with these now it will definitely ease the pressure on us as a committee.”

In response to a recent boat mishap along the Bonny River which claimed the lives of three female travelers, the Chairman of Bonny LGA, Anengi Claude-Wilcox initiated a total reform of the marine transport system.

This move saw the suspension of the executives of the three boat unions operating in the area, discarding of worn-out life vests which had become unsuitable and unsafe for passengers’ use, and retrieval of donated life vests which one of the boat operators hoarded in his residence.

The retrieved life vests, however, were inadequate as they were not enough to serve the teeming number of passengers plying the Bonny waterways, thus making this donation by Evomec Global Services Limited appear like a breath of fresh air to assuage the dire situation.