Boat Mishap: Lagos Assembly tasks Sanwoolu on safety measures

As the rains keeps on drizzling leaving behind gloomy tales behind and also increasing the body of water in the waterways, the Lagos State House of Assembly has implored Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to give a marching order to the Lagos State Waterways (LASWA), Ministry of Information and other relevant agencies to firm up advocacy and sensitisation on the need for passengers to put on life jackets, while in the boat.

This was raised under matter of urgent public importance by Hon. Femi Saidi, representing Kosofe Constituency 2 in the House, informing other lawmakers about the death of three members of a family, who died in a boat that capsized within the riverine area of his constituency.

“I want to call on the state government to come to our aid in my constituency on incessant boat mishap and I also commiserate with the family of those, who lost their lives in the incident,” he said.

In his contribution, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa 2) opined that the government should do more to advocate the need for people to wear life jackets while in the boat.

He reiterated the need to intensify advocacy on the need for passengers to adhere strictly to safety procedures, to avert future occurrences.

Hon. Richard Kasumu (Ikeja 1) stressed that local government chairmen also need to carry out necessary precautions by clearing drainages among other safety measures.

In his response, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, aligned with others lawmakers line of thought adding that officials of the Lagos State Waterway Agency (LASWA) needed to monitor the jetty terminals, while boats and ferries are loading to ensure the safety of lives.

While commiserating with the family who lost three members in the incident, Obasa said that the agencies concerned must do their work, especially LASWA,the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure and the ministry of Information .