By Moshood Adebayo
LAGOS State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has ordered the sale of state ferries that are not sea-worthy.
The sale was ordered just as the governor, yesterday, lamented loss of lives, which in recent times has characterised the state’s waterways transportation.
He said Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRIES) has been ordered to remove fleet considered not sea-worthy.
Ambode restated its administration’s commitment to sanitise water transportation to ensure improved, efficient and safe movement of people and goods.
Ambode, who spoke through the Managing Director of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Ms Abisola Kamson, said government had recently embarked on stock taking and repositioning.
This, she said, would ensure sanity on its waterways as well as prevent mishaps and wanton loss of lives.
“While government is not relenting in the quest to achieve all of these, it would not fold its arms and allow wanton loss of lives due to negligence, rickety ferries, and unsafe operational equipment and activities to continue unchecked.
“Implicitly, the sanitisation and reorganisation going on in the water transportation subsector is not limited to private operators alone.
“It is a cleansing aimed at ensuring total safety of our people.
“Jetties, terminal, ferries and other water-related infrastructure that is not worthy would not be allowed.