Due to the increasing rate of boat mishaps in the country, the Nigerian Navy Ship, (NNS) Pathfinder, has conducted a search and rescue simulation exercise to save lives at sea and curb boat mishap casualties recorded in the nation’s maritime domain.

The exercises were in conjunction with two other security agencies including the Nigerian Airforce, Civil Defence, Police, NEMA, NIMASA, NIWA, NPA, and the Rivers State Government, amongst others.

Speaking, the Naval Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Desmond Igbo, said the Navy was poised to save lives at sea, noting that apart from protecting Nigeria’s maritime domain from both external and internal threats, the Navy also must protect lives.

Igbo said the exercise is a directive from the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, just as he commended the Rivers State Government and the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Saheed Akinwande, for their support in the conduct of the Search and Rescue Simulation Exercise, SAR SIMEX.

“This event is occasioned by the increased rate of boat mishaps and several casualties recorded in Nigeria’s maritime domain including Rivers State in recent times. Accordingly, the Nigerian Navy in keeping with its constitutional mandate of ensuring the safety and security of the nation’s maritime environment mobilized other relevant maritime stakeholders to employ a SAR procedure in order to curb this trend.

“The SAR SIMEX is aimed at exercising the Nigerian Navy and other relevant maritime agencies in Emergency SAR operations to effectively conduct SAR operations in the maritime environment with a view to encouraging the Rivers State Government to reactivate its Emergency SAR team.

“The exercise was necessitated by the need for the Nigerian Navy to save lives at sea, apart from protecting the maritime environment including oil and gas assets, we also have the mandate to protect lives and properties, that is why the CNS mandated us to simulate this exercise with other security agencies.

“The point is that we must protect lives, in collaboration with other stakeholders including the Rivers State Government. We already have our Naval boats and ships in the creeks, in case of any emergency.”

Also speaking, the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, represented by the Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu, commended the Nigerian Navy for conducting the exercise and hinted at plans to revitalise the State Emergency Management Agency.

The governor recalled the heroic act of a Rivers indigene, Joe Blankson, who lost his life after rescuing 14 persons during a boat mishap along the Bakana River in 2018.

He said: “We must commend the Nigerian Navy for putting the simulation exercise together, and to let us know that we all have a part to play in ensuring a holistic approach for safety and security on our waterways.”

On his part, the Police Commissioner in Rivers State, Olatunji Disu, described the marine Police as one of the most important agencies in water operations, assured residents of the force’s readiness to collaborate with other agencies in carrying out rescue operations within the state’s waterways

Meanwhile, the Port Harcourt Area Manager, of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Surv. Bernard Ekawu said NIWA remains passionate concerning safety on the waterways and has already established search and rescue centres across all area offices.

“The Authority is poised to ensure that there is safety on our waterways, however, it needs an interagency collaboration. There is emphasis from the Authority on adherence to safety protocol.

“We don’t allow sailing at night, boat overloading, rickety boats, and moving without life jackets. So all stakeholders on the waterways must adhere to safety protocol.”

For his part, the South-South Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Adebiyi Razaq, represented by Zonal Secretary, Ochoche Samson Ochepo, said NEMA was already carrying out advocacy and sensitization to reduce disasters on the waterways.