Adelanwa Bamgboye
7 January 2009
The Lagos State Government (LASG) has concluded arrangements to revive the comatose public ferry services whose ferries plied Lagos waterways 18 years ago.
Governor Babatunde Fashola signed the Lagos State Waterways Act and subsequently inaugurated a management team for the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), to implement and enforce provisions contained in the Act.
Similarly, two private operators have secured the LASG's concession to establish full scale water transportation systems for the State just as the State government currently dredging the waterways and building jetties.
Modern terminals are being constructed at Ikorodu, Badore and Osborne and the ferry routes being dredged and channelized include Ikorodu - Badore via Oreta, Baiyeku and ijede; and Ikorodu - Osborne.
These developments make Lagos State the first State in the federation to initiate and promulgate legislation for the efficient management of her waterways and marine resources.
The move is seen as part of the State government's efforts towards transforming Lagos into a modern mega city.
LASWA among other responsibilities is to promote, develop and regulate the operation of vessels and other forms of marine crafts within the Lagos waters. The Authority is also to collect tolls, fees and levies for the use of the waterways and water transport infrastructure by licensed operators and concessionaires.
LASWA will equally see to the removal of wrecks, derelicts and other obstacles to safe navigation in the Lagos waters including water hyacinth and other harmful marine organisms. The organization would install navigational buoys, lighters and markers along the inland waterways of the State.
Before now, at the premises of the State Ferry Services at Mile Two, Amuwo-odofin, only 12 ferries initiated by the regime of Alhaji Lateef jakande were available but not working. Besides, the premises is used by the State and local government traffic officials for habouring alleged traffic offenders.
Investigations revealed that one of those 12 ferries including -M V Odoragunsen-found their way into wrong hands. Specifically, MV Odoragunsen was retrieved from Cameroun and was brought back to the country. It was gathered that there was no paper work or any signed document that indicated appropriate business transaction for which the ferry was taken to Cameroun.
When the ferry was eventually recovered, all its seats had been removed and in a cannibalized state. It was gathered that the ferry was first taken to Calabar , the Cross River State capital before it was finally brought to Lagos seaport.
The new development was of joy to the people in Ikorodu, ibeshe and Badore who said ferry services would be of great benefit to them should the government sincerely revive its waterways transportation.
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