As part of the effort to guarantee safety in the water transportation environment,
Lagos State Government has concluded plans to distribute 5,000 pieces of life jackets to commercial boat operators, in an effort to guarantee water transportation safety.
Disclosing this during the monthly stakeholders meeting of his Ministry with members of the Community Development Associations (CDAs), Community Development Committees (CDCs) and the Coordinators of Neighborhood Watch in the 57 local government areas/ Local Council Development Areas of the state, Lagos State Commissioner for Rural Development, Cornelius Ojelabi, explained that the state government procured the safety jackets to prevent further loss of lives often recorded whenever there is an accident on the water ways.
According to him, since operators cannot afford to buy the jackets on their own, the State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, as a caring leader, gave approval for its purchase and distribution, warning that once the jackets are distributed, government will be left with no other option than to enforce the law and prosecute anyone that travels on water ways without life jackets.
“Once the jackets are distributed, anybody caught will be prosecuted according to the law, as the state will not wait until there is a disaster before it enforces the use of the jackets,” he said.
Ojelabi however, urged CDAs to educate their people on the importance of using the life jacket while on water ways, noting that government is committed to protecting lives and property of the citizenry.
He also urged CDAs to continue to mobilise and educate their people on the importance of registration with the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA).
