The Lagos State Government (LASG) has identified excessive drinking of alcohol by boat drivers while on duty as one of the factors responsible for mishaps on the waterways.
The state Commissioner of Transportation, Ladi Lawanson, stated this during the third Annual Stakeholders Forum held in collaboration with the Badagry Chambers of Commerce in Badagry on Sunday.
The theme of the forum was “Stakeholders Engagement on Operational Guidelines for Boat Operators”.
Lawanson, who was represented by a consultant on Marine Affairs, Gbenga Omotoso, said, “Avoid taking alcohol on the water; if you are intoxicated, you may endanger the lives of passengers as well as yourself.
“The Lagos State Government has put various policies in place to ensure the safety of lives on the sea.”
The Managing Director, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Damilola Emmanuel, said that despite the ravaging effects of the pandemic, the use of water transport in Lagos State has witnessed a tremendous transformation.
Emmanuel said that there was an increase in ridership figures on the waterways in the state.
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