Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have summoned the State Commissioner for Transportation, a Special Adviser and the General Manager, Lagos State Waterways Authority to appear before it next Tuesday to give clarifications on the persistent incidents of boat mishaps in the state.
Those summoned include the State Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Dayo Mobereola, Special Adviser to the Governor on Transport, Hon. Babatunde Hunpe and the Managing Director of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mrs. Abisola Kamson.
The Speaker gave the ruling after the submissions of members in response to a motion moved by Hon. Fatai Mojeed, representing Ibeju Lekki Constituency I, who incidentally is also the Chairman House Committee on Transportation.
Hon. Mojeed had, during a Matter of Urgent Public Importance, referred members to reoccurring boat mishaps across the State which have led to loss of lives.
According to the lawmaker, the incident is becoming one too many, hence the need for a drastic step and action to nip it in the bud.
He regretted a situation where in the last month the State recorded three incidents in Ijede, Ikorodu and Badagry areas of the State respectively and therefore urged his colleagues to join him in calling on the Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode to call on relevant agencies of government, particularly LASWA, to ensure strict compliance with extant rules and guidelines guiding the operation of water transportation and business in the State.
In his submission, Hon. Rotimi Olowo representing Shomolu Constituency 2, lamented the deaths that occurred as a result of the incident. He suggested the need to bring in experienced operators, especially foreign investors who can provide modern boats instead of the current conventional ones that could not stand tidal waves on the high sea.
“The security of lives of Lagosians is paramount and should be secured,” he said.
While contributing, Hon. Omotayo Oduntan, gave an insight into her experience when the House mandated her and others to visit the families of those involved in boat mishap at Irese area of the state.
She said her observation revealed that most of the local operators overload their boats with passengers, while the boats are in a very bad shape.
This, according to her, might be a contributory factor to boat mishaps in the State.
She therefore enjoined the State Government to invest and invite foreign investors while LASWA should provide life jacket for school children.
Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi opined that LASWA needs to be empowered to monitor the waterways. He said most of the operators are not licensed and that this needed to be checked, while defaulters should be punished to serve as deterrent to others.
Hon. Sikiru Osinowo observed that the problem is not that of life jacket, but that LASWA should liaise with the National Waterways Agency to dredge the waterways and create transportation channel for boats.
Hon. Rotimi Abiru, the Chief Whip also adopted the submission, but suggested that compensation and insurance be considered for victims.
Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, said the laws establishing LASWA should be looked into with a view to raising the penal regime and provisions.
The Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, in his ruling said: “we need to protect our people, we need to evaluate existing laws.
“It is our responsibility as stated in the constitution to provide security for the people. Therefore, we need to look into issues leading to the reoccurring mishaps.”
He subsequently ruled that the government functionaries be summoned.