CAPACITY BUILDING: CILT Nigeria Woos LASWA Staff For Effective Waterways Operations

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Nigeria has called on management of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) to facilitate participation of its staff in the forthcoming Executive Masters training slated for May, 2024.

At a courtesy visit to the head office of LASWA in Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos, the Lagos Council Chairman of the Institute, Comrade Bashir Ambi explained that the four weekends program, is for staff of transport related organisations

He quipped that the training programme will keep them up-to-date on global transport matters and innovations.

Ambi said, “There is a program being organised by CILT, Nigeria in conjunction with one of the logistics and supply chain companies. It is an Executive Masters on Transport and Supply Chain.

 

“It is a four weekend program starting from 4th of May, 2024. I think we will appreciate if LASWA can key in and get some of the officers to attend. It is very rich.

Earlier, Bello Salim, Chairman, Maritime Mode, CILT, Nigeria explained the reasons for the visit of the Institute to the Lagos state transport parastatal.

According to him, the institute seeks collaboration with the Lagos waterways regulator to together to nip the incessant boat mishaps in the bud.

 

To achieve the feat, he advocated the appointment of key officers to hinterlands to enforce government regulations on waterways as well as having water ambulances in strategic locations for prompt rescue of victims.

 

“The reason why we are here today is due to the incidences on waterways and it has become necessary for our Institute to work hand in hand with all stakeholders to ensure that the incidences are reduced to the barest minimum.

“We understand that LASWA has a wide reach among various jetties in Lagos and in order for us to pass the message of adherence of best practices at our jetties, we thought it wise that we should approach your organisation to put heads together to pass the message of safety culture at sea.

“But what I think we need to do if it is possible, is the jetties in the hinterland where eyes do not reach and how we can appoint key safety officers that one can hold responsible in the event of mishaps, how we can have strategic location of water ambulances,” he suggested.

Highlighting some of the roles of the Institute, Salim who is a staff of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) told the management of LASWA that the institute had different trainings programs for members.

“CILT does a lot of safety trainings over the years, we have a calendar of various trainings for various cadres of staff. So, we will let you know that so that in the future, your staff too can partake and benefit from these safety trainings.

“At the same time, we will seize this opportunity for membership drive where staff of your organisation will be encouraged to join our professional body so that they could be abreast with recent international practices

“Also, we seek the corporate membership of LASWA to get you onboard membership of CILT Nigeria.”

Responding, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, General Manager, LASWA while welcoming the visitors, expressed sadness over the two recent boat accidents on the waterways.

According to him, the agency is open to collaboration because its successes in its operations are products of collaborations.

 

He pointed out that the two organisations could collaborate in the areas of sensitisation of stakeholders as well as life jackets donation to boat operators which he said that LASWA has been doing over the years.

In membership drive by CILT, the LASWA GM promised to see how the agency could participate in the training but he complained that the time frame was short.

His words, “For us in the last few years, we have been very focused and in the last two years, the incidents have dropped but very saddened over the last two incidents that happened this year

“The two incidents this year are avoidable because the two operators should not have left at the time they left

“So, where we are today has a lot to do with collaborations and so, we are open to synergy and collaboration.

“We can have sensitization sessions together where we will identify strategic jetties, join resources together and I don’t know if you have the financial might to donate life jackets to boat operators.

“In Lagos, we donate life jackets as a way of subsidizing every year to operators across all divides and there is no division that will say they have not received life jackets from LASWA even down to Epe.

“So, the areas of life jackets donation and safety sensitization are where I think we can work together and any other area that you think we can collaborate, we are willing to do so.

“We have our training that we do and if there is any area that we think we should invite CILT, of course, we will invite you,” he submitted.