‘Ensure You Wear Lifejackets’. To Bayelsa Corpers.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Bayelsa State, today, complained bitterly due to the rate of Corps Members death to boat mishaps.
This complaint came as a result of death of Corps Members in the state transporting themselves to their PPA’s. The concern was raised when the new state Commandant, NYSC, Mrs. Loto Bolade paid a courtesy visit to the state Commandant of the NSCDC, Desmond Agu, in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The NSCDC Commandant urged the NYSC authorities to remind and educate their members especially persons posted to the coastal areas to always make use of their life jackets when traveling.
He said:
“Bayelsa State has a different terrain. It is 70 per cent water. So, always tell the corps members to carry their life jackets and wear them whenever they are traveling. Even if they can swim, they should not be over-confident.
“NYSC should also ensure that they are constantly in touch with youths posted to remote areas. Always keep in touch with the youths and ensure that their employers are treating them well”.
He added that his command would always contribute to the success of NYSC programmes in the state by providing the needed security.
In her response, Bolade said NYSC was working hard to ensure that members of the corps posted to rural areas in the state were given life jackets.
“We will continue to talk to the corps members posted to the riverine areas to always wear their life jackets. We will keep talking to them”, she said.
Bolade, who was redeployed from Niger State, thanked the NSCDC for its cooperation especially in the areas of security.
She appealed to the command for more support and demanded security presence at the Kaiama camp for the forthcoming orientation programme.
We urge all Corps Members who travel across water bodies to ensure they wear their life jackets for safety.