Apparently determined to promote and sustain water transportation investment , the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) has reaffirmed commitment in ensuring safety of lives and properties along the brown waters through proactive measures.
LASWA disclosed that plans are already completed to commence inland waterways command and control centre which according to it ,is the first in West Africa.
As part of the proactive measures, the center which is expected to commence operations before the end of the year , will be domicile in Falomo, Ikoyi Lagos, with state-of-the-art cameras installation within the Ojo – Ikorodu- Island axis to determine number of accidents and movement of passengers along the waterfront.
Speaking with newsmen at a press briefing in Lagos on Friday, LASWA General Manager, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel said that the centre is aimed to monitor operational activities within the state waterways which in turn will enable the Agency responds swiftly to emergency and data capturing.
Emmanuel noted that the command and control centre would further aid LASWA to get first hand information about passengers and operators who violate rules of engagement .
He said the agency has also commenced the upgrade of LASWA emergency unit adding that “With this command and control centre we are going to see how a lot of these movements happen on our waterways.
On infrastructure development, Emmauel said the agency has also commenced upgrade of infrastructure since the beginning of the year 2021 ,with a total of 15 jetties and one terminal across the state.
Emmanuel noted that the agency was commitment in focusing on infrastructure development as a veritable for the sustainability of water transport infrastructure and investment adding that the state government was planning ahead in furtherance to coordinate with other mode of transportation.
He said: “Critically to us , what we set out to do is the upgrade of infrastructure and this has to do with the jetties and terminals across the state because without reconstruction, there is no embarking or disembarking for passengers so the state government is currently rehabilitating jetties and terminals.
According to him, some of infrastructure are 65% ready for utilisation pointing out that most of the facilities are due for commissioning by the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure and Development.
The General Manager further noted that after the commissioning, the Ministry would hand over the facilities to LASWA for proper maintenance , operationalization and supervision.
According to him, some of the jetties built were designed for community utilisation with specific channelization for full optimisation.
While harping on the need to cover various locations untapped , he disclosed that 48 water guards were initially deployed to some of the areas where the Agency has no physical presence to improve waterways safety and monitoring but added that the state government further approved employment of additional 60 personnel to oversee the infrastructure .
By Roland Ekama
