Waterways Security: FG To Set Up Coast Guards – Oyetola

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola on Saturday disclosed federal government’s plan to establish Coast guards for security and safety of waterways.

He said the initiave would help to complement efforts of marine Police and Navy in ensuring safety on Waterways across the country.

Oyetola spoke at the Grand finale of the 2023 Iragbiji Day Celebration where he emphasised the need for development, education and youth empowerment in communities.

He said this and other initiatives under the administration of president Tinubu would enhance security, safety of lives and job opportunities for the citizens.

He noted that security had been beefed up across waterways in the country in a bid to ensure their potential are fully explored and actualised.

According to him, the ministry is committed to ensuring adequate security in all the coastal areas as part of efforts to attract more investments in the maritime sector.

He implored the citizens to continue to support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu towards actualising the policies and programmes of his government.

He also noted that it is imperative for community at different levels to see genuine development as a collective effort.

“It is evident that development doesn’t just happens, it requires genuine effort from all and sundry and I want to believe that supporting government in this regards would go along way.

“Government alone can not do it. There should be community support projects to complement government’s efforts for overall development”, Oyetola added.

The Minister seized opportunity to frown at the conversion of SDGs’ vocational centre located in Iragbiji to a football camp by the Osun State government.

Oyetola said “It is ridiculous that the state government could think of converting a centre that is meant for youth development into a soccer base.

“As we all know, this is a project that is meant for our youths to acquire different technical and vocational skills thus promoting entrepreneurship and youth development. Turning the Centre into anything outside this is a disservice to the purpose it was meant for.

“As a person, I don’t have any problem with football, I love football but we won’t allow a project that is purposely built to cater for youth development in the area of entrepreneurial skills acquisition to become a football base for whatever reason.

“This is a project that we fought for and facilitated while in government for the benefit of youths in the state and anything short of what it is meant for is anti-development.

“I have taken it up already and I want to assure you that very soon, something will be done in that regard.”

Addressing newsmen, the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdulrosheed Olabomi used the event to canvass support for the education trust fund put together by the community to assist indigent students.