The Lagos State Waterways Authority on Wednesday said it had distributed over 3,500 life jackets to boat operators to boost safety in water transport in the state.The Managing Director, LASWA, Mr. Yinka Marinho, said this during the distribution of the 200 life jackets to boat operators at Aiyetoro jetty in Epe.
Seventeen boat operators benefited from the exercise.
He said the gesture was in continuation of the agency’s water safety awareness programme, which began in 2012.
Boat operators in Badagry, Ikorodu, and Ojo had previously received 300; 500; and 2,000 life jackets, respectively during similar gesture.
He said, “This is in continuation of our water safety programme which we have been doing yearly.
Governor Babatunde Fashola helped us to start the distribution with 2,000 life jackets when the Ebute-Ojo Terminal was inaugurated.
“It is to get us aware about the benefit like what we do when we wear our safety belts when we drive. You can see by the practical demonstration that you don’t need to know how to swim. As long as you wear the safety jacket, you will stay afloat.”
Marinho, however, noted that, “it is unfortunate we had a boat mishap here (Epe) during the presidential and National Assembly elections when four persons lost their lives.
“So, this is to forestall cases of deaths when mishaps occur.”
The managing director dismissed the notion that the gesture was part of campaign for votes, saying the government of the state is still working regardless of the politics and elections.
A boat operator, Mr. Anthony Agadi, thanked the agency for the gesture saying, if the victims of the last boat mishap had life jackets, they could have been saved.
“But we are indeed grateful to the LASWA because now our passengers would have more confidence in our operations.’
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