Managing Director of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mr. Damilola Emmanuel, has called on industry stakeholders to cooperate with LASWA in its bid to re-position the water transportation system in the state. The MD made this call on Thursday, October 5, 2017 at a stakeholders meeting hosted by LASWA in Ikoyi, Lagos and tagged “The role of water transportation in the development of an integrated transportation system in Lagos”. Attended by relevant industry stakeholders like the state Safety Commission, Lagos Ferry, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Lagos state Ministry of Transportation, boat operators and dredgers, Police etc, the event discussed issues affecting the industry. While appealing to the operators to seize the window now open to regularise their operations, Damilola stated that after the closure of the window, the authority will commence enforcement. Explaining that the measures put in place by LASWA is to ensure that the inland waterways are safe and efficient, the MD added that LASWA operates an open door policy and will welcome suggestions from the industry players. Damilola also said that “operators should call on us if they discover any development on the waterways, and they should feel free to interact with us anytime”. Also speaking, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the Lagos Ferry Services, Hon. Paul Kalejaiye, revealed that the jetties built by the Lagos state government would soon be handed over to the successful concessionaires. He also stated that Lagos state government has approved the setting up of a boat manufacturing plant in Epe, and the land on which the factory is to be sited has been secured. In his presentation, the representative of the Lagos state Commissioner of Justice, Mr, Hameed Oyenuga, reasoned that the legal battle between the state government and the National Inland Waterways Authority has been settled following the judgement of the Court of Appeal which reportedly gave powers to LASWA to control activities on the Inland waterways in the state.]]>
