We reduced boat accidents from 19 to two – Sanwo-Olu

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has inaugurated the newly installed Waterways Monitoring and Data Management Centre, at the Five Cowrie Terminal, in Falomo, Ikoyi.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Gboyega Akosile, the centre would serve as a centralized monitoring base for the activities of the Lagos Waterways Authority.

The governor said that the data centre would help to monitor the activities of water transport, and generate real-time information to enhance safety and improve transport on the inland waterways.

Sanwo-Olu also unveiled various surveillance gadgets such as the advanced DJI Aerial Drone for surface surveillance and the BlueEye Pro drone for underwater search and rescue operations.

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He also inaugurated the LASWA Search and Rescue Unit which would be responsible for patrolling and enforcing the state’s waterways rules and regulations.

In his remark, the Governor said “In the last three and half years, our administration has invested massively in waterways infrastructure and assets to deliberately encourage and promote water transportation in Lagos. Our gathering today is to further deepen our commitment to having a safe and secure ferry operation on our waterways. We are commissioning a big command and control centre specifically established to monitor and protect our waterways.

“We are inaugurating the newly created Search and Rescue Unit that will be patrolling and enforcing our waterway’s rules and regulations. We are handing over two additional patrol boats and safety enhancements. We are also launching advanced D.J.I. Aerial Drone, BlueEye Pro drone for underwater searches, and U-SAFE rescuing gadgets.

“These gadgets are acquired and installed to consolidate our efforts in making our waterways safer for its users and making monitoring activities seamless. It also demonstrates our unparalleled commitment to providing a viable alternative transport solution that will complement other modes. This is the investment we will continue to make, in addition to building additional jetties. In the coming weeks, we will be commissioning eight newly built jetties out of the 15 we are currently building.”

Speaking on the strides of the state, Sanwo-Olu said, “We have invested so much in LASWA that today, we are beginning to see the effects. Over the past three years, daily commuter ridership has increased to 43,000 passengers and over 1.4 million passengers yearly. There has also been a visible reduction in boat mishaps achieved through our massive intervention in safety equipment and donations of free lifejackets across the 15 Local Government Areas accessible by water.”

 Meanwhile, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Maritime Matters, Prince Yomi Sopitan, said that the innovation had raised surveillance capability and addressed safety concerns in the state.

Sopitan said, “Prior to the installation of advanced technology gadgets, private boat operators in Lagos used to record an average of 19 water accidents yearly. The state recorded only two major water accidents in the year, testifying to improvements we have achieved in the last two years.”