The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) on Friday commenced the removal of wrecks in Lagos Ibeshe, Owode, and Ijora.
Speaking with journalists on Friday, NIWA Lagos Area Manager, Sarat Braimah, said, “We have identified human error and wrecks as the two major reasons why we keep having boat mishaps in Lagos. That was why we started the training of boat skippers. The training was aimed at addressing the issue of human error leading to boat mishaps on our waterways.
“Now, to address wreck menace, we decided to commence the removal of wrecks in three locations along the Lagos waterways. We are starting today with Ijora. By next week, we will move to Owode and Ibeshe axis to remove wrecks so that waterways users will move freely on the waterways in Lagos.
“We have done survey analysis of what the wrecks look like and the reports have long been submitted. So the wreck removal is commencing today and will last for the next three months.
“From the survey analysis report, we have abandoned dredgers and old ferries underneath the water and constituting wrecks for waterways users. One of the wrecks underneath the water is a 100-passenger capacity ferry. So, you can see that survey analysis has already revealed to us what we are expected to remove, and the removal process will commence today.”
She said the Kirikiri to Badagry water axis was left out of the exercise because the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) was handling that section.
“We were supposed to start from the Badagry area but as you all know, NIMASA has been given the approval to remove wrecks from Kirikiri to Badagry. That is why we are focusing on other areas of the Lagos Inland waterways.
“The Badagry area is close to the routes where ocean-going vessels pass through when coming to our ports, that was why it was agreed that NIMASA should handle that area,” she said.