Lagos aims safer, efficient water transportation

By Bisi LAWAL

The Lagos State Government is working round the clock to boost its water transportation by creating safer, efficient, and sustainable strategies.

State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, let this out during a tour of the Lagos State Waterways Monitoring and Data Management Centre, WMDMC, Control Room, established by the Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, about three years ago.

Affirming the purpose of the tour, Osiyemi explained that various strategies were being taken by the state government to make water transportation a viable and reliable option for residents.

Explaining the functions of the WMDMC control room, the General Manager, LASWA, Mr. Damilola Emmanuel, stated that the control room was set up to manage movement on the inland waterways.

Emmanuel further highlighted the sections of the WMDMC consisting of; a Command-and-Control, Vessel Tracking System, Radio and Video Communication Network and Tidal Gauge Monitoring System which are all responsible for monitoring activities round the clock of 4 jetties locations; Ikorodu, Ebute Ero, Liverpool and Falomo.

LASWA General Manager added that the data cameras capture real time incidences as far as 2.5 kilometre range from the jetties checking mishaps and impediments on the waterways.

Emmanuel also disclosed that plans are underway to extend the monitored locations to five more to enhance safety on the inland waterways.

To further assess real time safety measures on the waterways, the tour delegates including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Olawale Musa, LASWA boat operators, and Caverton Marine delegates embarked on a boat ride in one of the Caverton locally made boats to Badore Ferry Terminal to inspect the boat yard where the construction of the ferries is taking place.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Olawale Musa while on the 35 minutes boat ride to Badore, hinted that the State Government finds it more economical patronising the local boat builders to build its boats which has in turn reduced cost of purchasing from outside the country.

At the boat yard, the Chief Executive Officer, Caverton Offshore, Olabode Makanjuola explained that the boats were built in line with international standard and about 15 newly built boats would soon be launched into the inland waterways.