The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) on Wednesday donated safety kits to enable volunteer divers save lives.
Shayman Suliman, Principal Technical Officer, NIWA, made this known during the presentation of the kits in Kaduna.
According to him, the donation is part of the Federal Government’s efforts in saving lives of its citizens in times of emergencies.
He said the donation followed a request from KADSEMA to support volunteer divers for the safety of persons who use the waterways for transportation.
Suliman said life jackets were also donated by NIWA while rain booths were donated by KADSEMA for use in muddy terrains.
“We also promise to continue to support the volunteer divers in all areas of safety,” he said.
Muhammed Mukaddas, Executive Secretary of the agency, said “we are here to support the tactical team of volunteer divers with safety kits in collaboration with NIWA to save lives.”
He said the agency recorded success in 2022 due to the vital role played by volunteer divers in the search, rescue and evacuation operations.
Mukaddas said the agency has activated its Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) while consulting with local government chairmen to provide temporary shelters in case of flooding.
Suliman Shehu, team leader of the divers, appreciated the authority for offering its hands of fellowship by donating safety kits to the divers.
He assured that the divers would continue to be more proactive in that regard.
“I urge the NIWA team to continue to do more for the agency whenever the opportunity arises,” he said.
