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Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has sympathised with the families of the victims of yesterday's boat mishap, the Emirate, and the people of Borgu local government council.
In a sympathy message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mal. Bologi Ibrahim, the governor described the incident as unfortunate and pathetic.
According to him, "I feel your pain and sorrow over the sad and unfortunate news. It is truly pathetic.".
While praying for the peaceful repose of the souls of the departed and quick recovery for those injured, the governor also prayed to God to comfort the families of the victims, the emir of Borgu Kingdom, and the people of the local government.
He commended the efforts of the local officials and the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) for quick rescue operations in collaboration with local divers.
The farmer governor stressed that relevant ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) must rise to their responsibilities to ensure that safety precautions in water transportation are observed in riverine communities to avert incessant boat mishaps.
He noted that boat incidents in recent times were becoming one too many in the state; hence, all hands must be on deck to reverse the ugly trend.
It was reported that a boat carrying about 100 passengers and goods such as grains and sugar cane from Dugga in Kainji under the Borgu Local Government Area of the state to Wara in Kebbi State capsized in Tungan Leda around Shagunu Village in the same Borgu Council.
While the rescue operation was still ongoing, five dead bodies have so far been recovered, and some survivors have been rescued, while several others are still missing.
The Niger State Government has disclosed that it has plans to engage members of the Nigeria Legion in the state to improve the welfare and livelihood of the families of men and women of the Nigerian armed forces who laid their lives for the peace and unity of the country.
The state governor, Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago, made the promise on Monday during the 2024 Nigeria Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, held at the 123 Quarters Permanent Cenotaph, Minna.
He said the occasion was an annual tradition that has become a ritual to remember and recognise the fallen heroes who fought to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
The governor, who was represented at the occasion by his deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba, observed that the retired members of the Nigerian armed forces had paid their dues, with some of them paying the supreme prize with their lives for the peace and unity of the country, and as such, they should not be allowed to wallow in abject poverty.
He said the state government has plans to engage some of them and their families in the Social Investment Programmes (SIP) as well as through the state ministry of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMSE) to improve their livelihood.
"Engaging them in social investment programmes is sacrosanct because they have paid their dues to this country and they are people living within us. By their age, we would not allow them to languish in abject poverty; the state government has plans on how to engage them based on their age and strength," said the farmer governor.
The governor also disclosed that the state government may engage some of the retired members of the Nigeria Legion in the state to tap into their experiences to tame insecurity in the state, saying their advice would be useful to the state in terms of curbing insecurity.
Chairman of the Nigerian Legion in Niger State, Mahmud Baba Ahmed, appreciated the state government under the leadership of Farmer Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, saying the legion had never had a sense of belonging like they have now.
He disclosed that the Legion had trained about 250 cadets of the Nigeria Legion Corps of Commissionairs, but only 100 of them were engaged, appealing to the state government to engage the remaining cadets.
The state chairman of the Legion, who said they were ready to serve if engaged, also appealed to the state government to redeem the pledges made to the Legion, urging his members to calm down and support the present administration in the state, as according to him, the government of Hon. Umar Mohammed Bago had shown that he wanted to help them.
Highlights of the event were the laying of the wreaths by the farmer governor and other dignitaries present, the release of the white pigeons, and a matching parade by members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
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