By Ajibola Abayomi
Lagos
The Lagos Waterways Authority (LASWA) has embarked on a campaign on safety in all the jetties in Lagos.
The sensitisation campaign was intended to educate both water way boat operators and users on the need to tale safety seriously onboard boats.
This, according to LASWA, will reduce the number of deaths recorded on waterways due to avoidable accidents.
The state agency in charge of waterways also revealed that the last day of the exercise would focus on simulation exercise. The simulation is intended to enlighten operators and waterways users on what to do in case of boat accident.
Confirming the drop in number of waterways users, Mr Damilola Emmanuel, the Managing Director of LASWA said “The number of passengers dropped from 2,000,000 monthly to 1,500,000 because of fear of safety.
“But we are looking into increasing the number at the up-coming months after the sensitisation exercise”
Speaking on the campaign exercise, the LASWA boss explained that “the exercise is to audit all our jetties because we realise that most of our jetties need to be upgraded and viable.
“We will also use the opportunity to create awareness on safety issues like wearing of life jackets, using good boats and enshrine general safety across the waterways. Next week, we shall be running a simulation; like if you fall into water, what will actually happen to you.
On first day of the safety campaign, five jetties were visited. Operators and passengers at Bayeku and Ijede jetties both in Ikorodu were sensitised.
Further, Badore, Langnasa and Oke-iranla jetties in Ajah axis were also educated on safety measures. LASWA then promised to tackle issues raised by water users on security and overload of passengers during the campaign exercise.
