There are indications that the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) have started clamping down on boat operators who use substandard life jackets.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily last week, District Chairman of Maritime Workers Union at Liverpool Jetty also known as Lagos commercial private boat district; Comrade Paul Gwan confirmed the information and kicked against the action.
He claimed that there was no official communication from LASWA to the union about the impending raid of boat operators. According to him, the clampdown is unnecessary because LASWA officials are already stationed at every jetty where passengers are boarded and disembarked.
He told our correspondent that the union has written to the LASWA officially in order to resolve the issue and restore total peace on the waterways.
"The information reaching me today is that LASWA has started clamping down some boats, especially those within the Allen Jetty"
"They are complaining that the life jacket is inferior. At the same time, before you embark on such operations, they are supposed to have informed the district office to inform the boat operators to put their jackets to standard"
"As of this morning, I have told the district secretary to write LASWA so that we can hold a meeting and resolve the issue to make sure that there is peace on out waters"
"All the jetties have LASWA representative and if a boat has loaded from the jetty, only to get to the middle of the water and somebody is stopping it, you are only telling the man at the jetty that he is not efficient" Gwan stated.
He said that there has been a reduction in the number of boat mishaps on the waters, compared to what was witnessed in the past. The MWUN chairman hinged the relative peace on the fact that passengers are now more aware of the dangers of not using life jackets.
"People are now better sensitised on the use of life jackets, they now know that even if there is boat mishap, you would float for some time before people would come to the rescue"
"Two years ago, when people were given life jacket, they would tell you that they are swimmers and they don't need life jacket, but not all of them know how to swim" He said.
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