About two million residents now commute by water in Lagos monthly, according to the Managing Director of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Abisola Kamson. Kamson, who spoke yesterday while briefing journalists on government policies on the regulation of water transportation, said plans had been concluded to channelize the waterways to ensure commuters’ safety.
She also said that government would soon unveil the guidelines for the boat and canoe operators to enhance safety and check activities of quacks in the sector. According to the LAWA boss, who said travelling by water remained the best in the state, two million residents, especially those whose residences can be reached through water, now commute by water on a monthly basis. Bemoaning the challenges of waste and refuse disposal in the waterways, Kamson decried the attitude of some residents living close to the lagoon.
She accused them of deliberately dumping their refuse into the water body which endangers commuters’ lives. Kamson, however, said efforts were on by government to make the state waterways safer, healthier and attractive. She added that tons of water hyacinth, plastic bottles and pure water sachets were removed from the waterways.
In the new guidelines, the MD said operating licences would be issued to the operators while captains of boat, jetty and canoe would be trained and oriented.
