By Joshua Yousouph
Following the increasing water level and tides of inland waterways in Lagos, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) have charged boat users to stick to the rules of engagement and imbibe all safety and security measures on Lagos waterways.
Recall that the Lagos State Government recently alerted residents of the state, on imminent flooding in the state. In a statement by the Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, he said that the agency received various alerts from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) about the intensity of flooding to be caused by heavy rainfall and the release of water from Oyan Dam.
He however urged Lagosians to be calm and report flooding activities to some designated emergency service numbers in the state.
Also last week, there were viral videos on social media on the rising water level on a part of the Third mainland bridge section of the Lagos lagoon. The video shows that the water level from Oworonshoki inward Lagos Island is gradually increasing which has raised lots of reactions and panic among boat users and Lagosians.
However, In a chat with the Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Engineer Sarat Braimah, she noted that the agency is aware of the high water tides and incidence of floods ravaging littoral communities around the country. She confirmed that there is an increase in water levels and tides on Lagos waters.
She reiterated the importance of the safety and welfare of passengers on water crafts, adding that the impact of climate change is here in Nigeria and can be seen through the lens of devastating floods which breached the socioeconomic and environmental lifelines of most states in the country, rendering the people homeless and destroying farmlands and livestock.
Braimah further assured that NIWA will deploy its task force, backed by ambulance services round the clock, with proactive management of water Hyacinth which is also moved upstream to the waterways, posing a challenge to boat operations.
Braimah further enjoined boat operators and ferry service providers to stick to extant rules of engagement. She specifically warned boat users against boarding boats without life jackets and other sundry activities unbecoming of boating rules, adding that all stakeholders must show commitment to passengers’ safety, including that of other waterway users.
“We are aware that there is a global climate change which is greatly affecting the tides of the waterways. The yuletide season is close by and people make use of the waterways more. So, we have increased our sensitisation. We are doing safety awareness campaigns at every jetty in Lagos State.
“We have written to request that Water Hyacinth be cleared and checked. We have also taken note of the possible challenges of having floods pushing out logs and wrecks from the creeks into the waterways and we believe, our ongoing wreck removal efforts will address the problem. NIWA Lagos will partner with stakeholders to ensure any expected weather-related challenge on the waterway is addressed to benefit of Lagos waterway users” Braimah noted.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mr Damilola Emmanuel noted that flooding and increase in water level of some coastal areas in Lagos state are under the purview of the Ministry of Environment.
He however assured that LASWA is taking proactive steps as regards the safety and security of lives and properties along the waterways in Lagos.
Damilola Emmanuel specifically noted that LASWA has adequately set up structures in monitoring the increasing tides of Lagos inland waters. He also noted that the Authority is also working on making sure the waterways are easily navigable for Boat operators and other boat users for effective water transportation.
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“The flooding issue is more of the terrain of the Ministry of Environment. Ours is just to make sure that the boat operators can navigate appropriately on the waterways.
“I can only speak from the water transportation perspective. It is the Ministry of Environment that can speak on the water itself which includes the drainages and the rest of that.
“Speaking from the water transportation perspective, I’ll say LASWA is adequately monitoring the tides of the waterways.
“We are also guiding all the operators accordingly, hence ensuring easy navigability for boat operators on Lagos waterways” he concluded.
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