Politics
TWELVE persons were killed in a boat mishap which occurred on Sunday, August 20 in Ilashe area of the state.
The Lagos State Government confirmed the incident in a statement issued by Abisola Kamson, managing director of Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, and attributed the unfortunate mishap to overloading of passengers on a Banana Boat and operation of illegal jetty.
Kamson said four victims of the mishap, who were rescued, were receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, while search and rescue operation was still on-going.
While commiserating with the families of those who lost their loved ones, the state government said the mishap had, again, brought to the fore the need for the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, to respect the recent verdict of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the powers of the state government to control its intra-inland waterways.
According to Kamson said: “It is a matter for regret that ever since the judgement was pronounced, NIWA has ejected all State Water Guards monitoring standards from all federal owned Jetties. In spite of this, the Government of Lagos State aligns to the safety of citizens on the waterways. All Lagosians are enjoined to wear standard life jackets at all times on our Waterways,” Kamson said.
Besides, the LASWA boss urged boat operators and other stakeholders in the inland waterways sector to adhere strictly to safety standards at all times.
Aug 21, 2017 @ 10:15 GMT
Tags: 12 Die in Lagos Boat Mishap Abisola Kamson Lagos State Government Lagos State Waterways Authority LASWA National Inland Waterways Authority NIWA
