Mkpoikana Udoma
01 December 2018, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt — As a way of ensuring safety standards on waterways and marine travelers this yuletide in Rivers State, a Christian denomination, Believers Loveworld Incorporated, also known as Christ Embassy Church, has donated hundreds of life vests to boat operators in the state.
The benefiting boat operators and communities include Abonnema wharf, Bille and Nembe waterfront.
Making the donation, the representative of Christ Embassy Church Port Harcourt, Pastor Emeka Okonicha, said the initiative was part of activities to mark this year’s Reach-Out-Nigeria campaign in the state.
According to him, “our regional Pastor Linda Okocha, has sent us in line with our annual Reach-Out-Nigeria campaign to reach out to our communities, so we have donated these few items to commemorate the 2018 community project.
“The donation is part efforts to give back to the society.”
Receiving the items, the Community Development Committee Chairman of Abonnema Wharf, Mr. Taribo Benson, said the donation will help in saving lives along waterways in the state.
Benson, speaking on behalf of the benefiting communities, Abonnema Wharf and Nembe Jetties, stressed that the life vests would help make marine travels safe for passengers and reduce the number of deaths along the waterways in the state.
“Apart from the female lawmaker, Victoria Nyeche, there is no other agency, whether public or private that has done these. So I give kudos to Christ Embassy church, I thank also the church members and the general overseer of the church who has found us worthy, on behalf of my community we appreciate.”
It will be recalled that Rivers State in the last one year has witnessed several boat mishaps, with accompanying the loss of lives along waterways in the state.