Five days ahead of the partial closure of 3rdMainland on Friday, 24th July, 2020, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, the thé Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA and the Lagos State Safety Commission today conducted a joint inspection of strategic Jetties and terminal to monitor safety procedures.
The action is coming on the heels of a series of meetings between LASEMA and other safety agencies, where the DG/CEO LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, declared LASEMA’s state of readiness, alongside its first responders who have all been placed on high alert with appropriate equipment, for the upcoming period.
According to Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu, the collaboration between LASEMA and other Lagos State Safety Agencies involved in the Inspection of Jetties, was a necessary move to ensure implementation of Safety Protocols ahead of this week’s partial closure of the 3rd Mainland Bridge from Friday 24th July, 2020 to 24th January, 2021.
This action, he revealed was in line with other strategies mapped out by LASEMA for deployment of its highly trained and efficient staff which will be backed by the maximal application of its equipment and supported with appropriate technology to ensure all-round safety of Lagosians on land and water during the period of partial closure of the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge.
Furthermore, during the Joint Inspection of the Jetties in which the team visited the CMS terminal, Ebute-Ero Marina, both on Lagos Island and Bariga Waterfront Jetty, in Ilaje area of Bariga, the LASEMA Director-General while speaking at the Bariga Waterfront Jetty in Ilaje-Bariga, stated that the joint inspection was aimed at ensuring that all the operators abide by the stipulated safety regulations for safety of all.
Dr Oke-Osanyintolu who said roads leading to the jetties have been repaired while reeling out government’s stringent measures, reiterated that night journeys would not be permitted, just as he advised residents to cooperate with government to ensure smooth operations and at the same time reduce the anticipated stress the partial closure of the 3rd Mainland Bridge would cause commuters.
“We are going to deploy Safety Marshals and Water Guards to ensure that operators keep to the rules and regulations and also enforce the use of Life Jackets and ensure that they do not use our waterways after 7pm” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
Further, the LASEMA DG stated that boat operators would maintain stipulated capacity, ensure they have the mandatory Life Buoys as part of necessary safety measures, revealing that the agency would position its Ambulances and Rescue Boats at strategic locations in conjunction with the Lagos State Waterways Authority and maintain a 24-hour watch by its Marine Unit, especially between the peak periods of 6:30am and 7:00pm daily as a lot more passengers travel the alternate routes and waterways, during the partial closure of Lagos Third Mainland Bridge.
Justifying today’s joint inspection tour as a necessary one by a proactive Emergency Management Agency under the watch of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration of Lagos State, Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu cited an instance during the tour, where a boat carrying four passengers without life jackets was seized and sanctioned, while the passengers were educated on the need to don Life Jackets during every journey on the waterways, no matter how short.
Going forwards, he reminded Lagosians that aside the regular 767 or 112 Toll Free Emergency numbers, the DG LASEMA said residents are free to message him on his personal line 08060907333, call the LASEMA Director of Operations, Engr. Olatunde Akinsanya on 08033391151 or Head of LASEMAs Lekki Zone and Marine Unit, Mr. Semire Ilori on 08034456121 in case of any emergency of useful observation.
Nosa Okunbor
Head, Public Affairs-LASEMA
19th July, 2020
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