LASWA educates fishermen on water safety

Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and Lagos State Ferry Services Corporation (LSFSC) have begun another round of sanitisation of fishermen and women in the state on water safety and the economic value of water hyacinth.

Abisola Kamson, managing director of LASWA speaking at the sensitisation programme held at the Ebute Ero Jetty on Lagos, Monday, said the government had recently embarked on the removal of hyacinth from the waterways to restore sanity, prevent mishaps and loss of lives.

According to Kamson, the government is also undertaking the education of the fishermen and women on water hyacinths, saying that the menacing plant can be converted into money generating venture for the benefit of all users involved in Lagos waterways.

“To ensure safety of lives on Lagos waterways, the Akinwunmi Ambode led administration has embarked on waterway demarcation to enable fishermen and other users know their routes on the waterways,” Kamson said.

She revealed that two mechanised equipment that would clear the debris on waterways had been approved by the governor and would be deployed in September.

“One of the things we find out on my resumption was that once the water hyacinth has been cleared from the waterways, it then almost becomes a waste material, which adds to the waste challenge in the state. And we are thinking of what other uses the water hyacinth could be put. We identified social impact companies to train people, especially women on how to utilise water hyacinth as a raw material for the creation of products like baskets. “So, our plan is to have an end-to-end solution. Thus, we see it as an opportunity to create jobs and make products from something that is a waste,” she added.

According to her, the current operations on the waterways does not conform to the international standard, which the state intends to reposition the water transportation system, adding that the process was not limited to the private sector operators alone.

“Whereas in the quest to sanitise the waterways, government has taken giant steps to start from its home front. It has ordered the Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRIES) whose current fleet is not considered water worthy to dispense of them, and prepare to comply with new guidelines and standards as issued jointly by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the LASWA,” Kamson said.