Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday revealed that about 14 million commuters currently ply the state’s waterways.
The governor who disclosed this at the commissioning of the state’s monitoring and data management Centre, upgraded search and rescue unit , two patrol boats and U-Safe emergency devices at the Five Cowries terminal, Falomo, Lagos also hinted that the state’s Blue Rail line has been completed and ready for commissioning soon.
He said the project is to further demonstrate his administration’s commitment to the Greater Lagos project especially in the area of traffic management and transportation pillar of its T.H.E.M.E.S agenda.
According to him, one of the key objectives of this pillar is the adoption of the multimodal transport system which basically aims at developing the water and rail modes of transportation as a strategy to reduce traffic congestion on the roads.
He said, “In the last three and half years, our administration has invested massively in waterways infrastructures and assets to encourage and promote water transportation in the state. Our efforts have led to increased passenger ridership, improved safety standards, and private sector participation and foreign partnerships with the British Government through Future Cities Nigeria and the French Government through the French Development Agency.
“Over the past three years, daily commuter ridership has increased to 43,000 passengers and over 14,000,000 passengers yearly. There is also a visible reduction in boat mishaps achieved through our massive intervention in safety equipment and donations of free lifejackets across the 15 L.G.A.s accessible by water.
“Our gathering here today is to further deepen our commitment to the safety of the waterways with the commissioning of a newly established Search and Rescue Unit responsible for patrolling and enforcing our waterways rules and regulation, two additional patrol boats and safety enhancement gadgets such as a D.J.I. Aerial drone, BlueEye Pro drone for underwater searches, and U-SAFE (rescuing gadget). In addition, we are also commissioning the first-of-its-kind Waterways Monitoring and Data Management Centre which makes monitoring activities on the waterway seamless, enhances safety, gives access to real-time information, and gathers data for continuous improvement of the inland waterways.”
According to him, the equipment was acquired and established to consolidate the government effort in making the waterways safer for all users.
” It also demonstrates our unparalleled commitment to providing a viable alternative transport solution that would complement other modes: rail and road transport systems,” he said.
Earlier, the General Manager of Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel said the facility is the nation’s first-ever inland waterways monitoring and data management center.
He said, “It is one of the significant achievements stated under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S. strategic agenda and specifically under the Traffic Management, Transportation, and security strategy.
” At L.A.S.W.A., safety and security are one of our most vital responsibilities, making our inland waterways transport structure world-class. I sincerely hope that after this event, we will see more of you commute on our channels frequently.’’
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