The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has ordered compulsory use of life jackets on Lagos waterways.
The governor made the pronouncement on Thursday at the distribution of life jackets at the Ebute-Ojo Jetty, in the Ojo area of the state.
The decision is coming on the heels of several boat accidents in the state which had claimed many lives.
In the Festac area of the state, over a dozen people died in March, while nine others drowned in Oworonsoki while a commercial boat was travelling from the Ebute Ero Jetty to the Majidun end of Ikorodu.
Fashola said the government took up the responsibility of providing life jackets to avert further loss of lives.
He said, “We have come here to inaugurate the compulsory use of life vests on our waterways. Ordinarily, this should have been the responsibility of our boat operators; to procure and provide this as part of their services; but because we understand that many of them are small businesses struggling for survival, the government has again taken the lead to provide these life vests free. We will do so gradually across all the water points of Lagos.
“I like to appeal to all passengers, whether on locally-made canoes, motor boats or the more sophisticated ferries that now ply our waterways, that they must insist that the boat operators provide them with life jackets. This is because we are going to issue those life vests and all the operators must also insist every passenger on their boat wear that life vests. This is all about safety”.
The governor, who also inspected the on-going Lagos HOMS project in Agbara, Badagry, the Agric – Yes model in the same area among other projects, added that officers of the Lagos Water Guards Corps would also ensure safety of the passengers
“We will continue to do our best to make our waterways safe. We have started the dredging, continuous signing by Lifebuoys. We have completed the dredging of this place up to Lagos Island and we have installed Lifebuoys which are the navigational signs of boat operators.
He implored the community leaders to watch against the theft of the installations.
Earlier, the state’s Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, had said the provision of 2,000 life jackets was the first phase of the 10, 000 life jackets earmarked for distribution. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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