By Foster Obi
Motoring/Maritime Editor
Lagos State Government has emphasised its commitment to sanitise the water transportation system to ensure improved, efficient and safe movement of people and goods on the waterways.
Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) Managing Director, Abisola Kamson, said the government has embarked on stock taking and repositioning to sanitise its waterways, prevent accidents and loss of lives.
She reiterated that the current operations on the waterways does not conform to international standards, and the state government intends to reposition the system, which means the process is not limited to private sector operators.
She added: “Whereas in the quest to sanitise the waterways, government has taken giant steps to start from its home front.
“It has ordered the Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRIES) whose current fleet is not considered water worthy to dispense of them, and prepare to comply with new guidelines and standards as issued jointly by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the LASWA.
“Implicitly, the sanitisation and reorganisation going on in the water transportation subsector is not limited to private operators alone. It is a cleansing that is aimed at ensuring the total safety of our people.
“Jetties, terminal, ferries and other water related infrastructure that is not worthy would not be allowed. The [Governor Akinwunmi] Ambode’s vision of a new prosperous Lagos is to pursue first class agenda and give Lagosians world class standards.”
Kamson, however, expressed concern that some private operators on the waterways had misconstrued the moves by the state government as a ploy to harass them out of business and had been peddling falsehood, claims, and counter claims in the media.
The government has a master plan which has identified 30 routes for channellisation, dredging, lighting, and demarcation for water transportation.
The routes include Badore-Five Cowries, Badore-Ijede, Baiyeku-Ajah, Baiyeku-Langbasa, Ebute Ojo-Marina, Ijede-Marina/CMS, Ikorodu-Falomo, Mile 2-Marina, Oworonsoki-Five Cowries, Ikorodu-Oworonshoki, Marina/CMS-Oworonshoki-Ebute Ero.
Kamson said the jetties also require upgrade, modernisation and addition of new constriction.