LASWA arrests dredgers, boat operators for violating safety protocols.

The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) on Tuesday arrested a total of six crew members on three different vessels within the state inland waterways over violation of safety protocols.

The suspects were arrested at CMS, Elegbeta and Iddo waters respectively during a patrol by the enforcement unit of the Lagos State waterways regulatory agency.

According to a statement, LASWA  Monitoring and Enforcement Team clampdown on the crew at various points over non compliance of waterways safety regulations.

It stated that two of the arrested persons are dredgers while other are barge operators

The  statement alleged that  those arrested were caught not putting on their life jackets thereby violating the extant laws and safety regulations of the Lagos waterways.

The statement read, “The Monitoring and Enforcement Team of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) while on patrol today the 11th August, 2020 apprehended a total number of six (6) crew members on three (3) different vessels which include Two dredgers and a barge in Elegbeta, Iddo and CMS areas of Lagos for not complying with waterways safety regulations. 

“All those arrested were caught not putting on their life jackets thereby violating the extant laws and safety regulations of the Lagos waterways.

LASWA said as a responsible agency, it would continue to sensitise all waterways users but also arrest and penalize all erring operators that violate the rules.

It added that it would intensify its efforts to achieve a safe, clean and prosperous waterways in Lagos State.