The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) on Wednesday said that its Enforcement Team on COVID-19 Waterways Operational Guidelines had begun routine patrols and given warnings to erring boat operators.
Close to 3,000 people were presently infected in Nigeria by the virus, with no fewer than 98 deaths.
Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, General Manager of LASWA and Leader of the Enforcement Team, highlighted this in Lagos, adding that the team would not hesitate to sanction any erring operators.
Emmanuel stated that all stakeholders on the state waterways have been duly informed of the new guidelines, hence the patrol was actually, to ensure strict adherence to water transport guidelines, following gradual ease of the COVID-19-induced lockdown of Lagos State.
“The enforcement team on Tuesday commenced state-wide inspection of commercial ferry operations with an unscheduled visit to some jetties in Apapa to monitor compliance by commercial ferry operators and other waterway users.
“The enforcement team observed substantial compliance with the government directives.
“Notwithstanding, there were few operators who violated the 60% carrying capacity, and they were warned. If repeated, they will be sanctioned accordingly,” he said.
Emmanuel added that ferry passengers were advised to always wear face masks and ensure physical distancing among themselves in order to avoid possible contact with an infected person.
According to him, the jetties where ferry operations were monitored by the team include Temidire-Ajegunle and Liverpool jetty in Apapa.
The LASWA boss said that waterways patrol and the enforcement would continue.
Also read: NIWA: Boats, ferries now at 60% capacity, while passengers wear face mask
“The authority will continue to monitor all activities on the inland waterways; more important is adherence to water transport guidelines aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus,” he said.
He called on all stakeholders to support government’s efforts to reduce novel coronavirus spread in Lagos and entire Nigeria.
In another development, the LASWA has also clamped down on illegal barge operators along the Mile 2 area of the state waterways.
The LASWA Boss, Mr. Emmanuel who confirmed this on Wednesday in a statement in Lagos said the agency discovered the illegal operations, during a routine patrol.
He equally said the authority had issued a-seven day ultimatum to the culprits to appear before LASWA.
“LASWA has issued seven days notice to all barge operators in and around the Mile 2 Ferry Terminal to desist from the illegal obstruction of ferry route and to report themselves to LASWA office to resolve the matter,” he said.
According to him, the operators are carrying out unauthorised trucking and container movement, thereby causing total blockage of the inland waterways in the Mile-2 area.
The general manager said that the barge operators in and around Mile-2 Ferry Terminal did not seek approval from the appropriate agency of government before embarking on their activities on the inland waterways.
He said that their operations were causing obstruction to the movement of ferries from Mile- 2 axis into Festac Town and beyond.
“The safety of all waterways users is very paramount to the state government.
“The ongoing illegal barge operations on both sides of Mile 2 water channels are not only affecting the physical structure of the Mile 2 Bridge and its basement, but also pose a serious threat to the safety of lives on the inland waterways.
“This is so, because their trucking activities has narrowed the water channel making it almost impossible for the passage of ferries,” Emmanuel said.
The LASWA chief explained that the state government had a perfect transportation plan for the area with the construction of BRT and Rail Stations in Mile-2 to complement the existing ferry terminal.
He said that the plan would ensure a multi-modal transport system in the area.
“The state cannot afford to lose such opportunity of having the road networks, Railway and the Waterways linked together at such a congested area as Mile-2,” he added.
In the meantime, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Wednesday said no fewer than 16 people have died while over 200,000 others have been affected by torrential rains and riverine floods.
OCHA said 10 other people are missing due to floods and no less than 2,000 farms have been swamped by water.
“The rains are likely to increase the risk of water-borne diseases,” OCHA warned in its latest report on the impact of floods in Somalia.
The forecast by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) indicated that the moderate to high flood risk would likely persist through mid-May.
This, the UN says, threatens urban and riverine populations, including in BeletWeyne (Hiraan) and Jowhar (Middle Shabelle) of Hirshabelle state.
According to the UN, river levels have risen along the Shabelle basin and there is a high risk of flooding in coming days and advised riverine communities in BeletWeyne to prepare for possible relocation during the week.
The UN said the most impact has been felt in Puntland where a heavy downpour on April 27 killed eight people and displaced over 22,000 people, and in Galmudug where six people have died and about 22,000 others are affected by floods.
It said over 100,000 people in South West State have been affected by floods while Jubaland has over 11,800 flood-affected displaced families reported in Lower Juba region.
The UN agency warned that the ongoing Gu (rainy season)’s flooding will exacerbate the humanitarian situation, joining the COVID-19 pandemic and locust infestation to form a “Triple Threat”.
It said disruptions to transport due to damaged roads and COVID-19 restrictions have pushed food prices up in some affected areas.
