LASWA RESCUES WATER ACCIDENT VICTIMS AT EBUTE OJO

By Godwin Oritse
THE water guards of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) has rescued 12 commuters whose boats capsized along the Ebute Ojo creeks in Lagos.

Disclosing this to Vanguard in Lagos recently, LASWA's Managing Director Mr Yinka Marinho stated that the boat capsized as a result of over speeding on a sharp bend by the operator.

Marinho said that the saving grace the commuters had was the fact that they had their life jackets on them adding that it was while they were afloat that LASWA water guard assisted them to get to shore.

The LASWA boss explained that the victims of the boat mishap were teachers from Osolu Junior and Senoir High School Irewe adding that a few people have lost their lives to avoidable accidents on the waterways.

According to Marinho, all the passengers and the pilot of the boat were rescued as the life jacket aided them to stay afloat.

Similarly, the authority has also warned commuters to stay away from the edge of the waters during this period of rainy season so as to avoid any form of accident.

He reiterated the need to ensure that life vest are worn by commuters when boarding and disembarking from the boats at any point.

He also warned operators of boats in the state to adhere strictly to all rules and regulation of water ways transport reduce their speed during rain fall.

'We appeal to listen and obey instructions from boat operators and observed orderliness at the jetties whenever they want to board and disembark.

'We also appeal to them to passengers to report any form of overloading and over speeding by any boat operator' He added.

Marinho stated that some of the authority's water guards are currently under going water survival training with a view to increasing the compliance level of LASWA's safety campaign.