The State Government through the Lagos State Waterways Authority continues to improve on safety guidelines, regulations and enforcement for the smooth operations of water transportation in the state.
There are continuous routine check-up and regular inspection of ferries plying the waterways, as well as the removal of water hyacinth causing obstruction to smooth navigation.
LASWA has also donated thousands of life jackets to commercial boat operators and students in the riverine communities of Lagos to promote the use of life jackets and the safety awareness programme.
The LASWA patrol team composed of Water-Guards and officers of the Counter-Terrorist Unit of the Nigerian Police in collaboration with the Marine Police are always on standby day and night monitoring all activities on the waterways while ensuring safety and security of both lives and infrastructures.
The results of these efforts have resulted into a drastic reduction in waterways incidences to the extent that no single mishap was recorded on the Lagos waterways in the last six months which is an indication of improvement in water transport safety and a proof of the excellent result of the THEMES agenda of the state government.
Sustainable investment in Inland Waterways sector will continue to prevent accident and increases public confidence in the sector.
Effective safety measures are like sound health, the value of it is seldom known until it is lost.