Following a series of boat incidents reported in Lagos and Anambra State recently, it has come to the attention of Wakadaily that the agency is keenly aware of the necessity of regulating water transport to mitigate accidents and safeguard lives on Lagos water routes.
The official, Dr Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu, emphasized that the agency is committed to enforcing safety protocols to avoid unnecessary loss of lives in these regions.
Oke-Osanyintolu pointed out that the Lagos State Waterways Authority, responsible for overseeing the state’s water routes, has put in place a range of safety measures to uphold the well-being of individuals navigating these waters.
He elaborated that LASEMA’s monitoring center in Alausa is intricately linked to a command control center on Lagos’ water bodies, specifically designed to handle emergency situations effectively.
Furthermore, he stressed that LASEMA actively supervises, formulates regulations, and assesses all operational procedures to guarantee the safety and security of commuters on Lagos’ waterways.
This signifies a proactive approach aimed at averting potential hazards and promoting a culture of safe practices within the water transportation sector.
“On our water, we have what we call a command control centre, which means that effective and efficient coordination of emergency response prevention is moved to our waterways and is connected with the command control in Alausa.
“So you can see that on Lagos waterways, we monitor, build regulations, and evaluate all processes to ensure safety. We work with the Federal Government Lnland Regulatory Agency to ensure proper regulations on our waterways,” he said.
Despite this, he mentioned that LASWA, the Safety Commission, the Fire Services, and LASEMA have been actively conducting numerous awareness and outreach campaigns to enhance water safety in the region.
Oke-Osanyintolu said “We are letting them know that they should have light balls in their boat, ensure the use of life jackets and not ply Lagos waterways when it is 7 pm. And they should have the basic knowledge to swim. And should there be any form of emergency on our waterways, they should call 112 or 767.”
When asked how LASEMA reacted to emergencies on the waterway, Oke-Osanyintolu restated , “LASEMA has what is called the Marine Rescue Unit. We have our shark base and boats. Our shark base is located in Lekki.
“And these are the people who always go in for rescue missions. We have local divers that the agency has trained. And our local divers are different from normal divers because they know the terrain. They can dive with expertise on waterways.
“Under the watch of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, we are doing everything humanly possible to ensure the safety of life and properties on our waterways. The agency is putting a lot of things in place. However, we appeal to the good people of Lagos State that they need to abide by the rules and regulations laid down. They should not also forget to call the emergency number -112 or 767, when necessary.”
In response to the recent boat accident in Anambra State, the LASEMA Public Relations Officer mentioned that the lack of life jackets and light balls played a role in the tragic loss of lives.
He emphasized the importance of following safety protocols when using waterways, including wearing life jackets and having light balls.
Wakadaily had earlier reported the incident, which claimed the lives of five people, including Nollywood actor Junior Pope, occurred during a boat trip to a film location in Anambra West Local Government Area. The absence of life jackets was identified as a key factor in the accident, leading to discussions on waterway safety regulations nationwide.
Following the tragedy, there was an outpouring of grief on social media, prompting calls for improved safety standards in the entertainment industry. The Actors Guild of Nigeria subsequently issued a directive prohibiting actors from participating in film productions involving riverine areas or boat rides.
