Lagos – The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday adopted the recommendations of its nine-man Ad hoc Committee on Incessant Boat Accidents in the state as the resolution of the House.
The adoption followed the presentation and debate of the report read by the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Sanai Agunbiade, the Majority Leader of the House.
Presenting the report, Agunbiade said the committee, following its stakeholders meeting, identified submerged objects like logs, timbers, boat wrecks, among others as causes of water mishaps.
He listed other causes as lack of professional boat captains, speed, weather, overloading, non -familiarisation with terrains, indiscriminate fishing, haphazard dredging and drunkenness of captains.
The chairman said the committee recommended a round-table meeting between the state waterways authority and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to end clashes on regulation on waterways.
He said there was a need for periodic dredging and removal of wrecks, training and certification of boat captains, speed control, strict enforcement of safety regulations and provision of navigational signs, among others.
Agunbiade also called for functional ambulances at jetties, engagement of Red Cross at jetties, regular inspection of boats, deployment of water guards, licencing of boats and operators and establishment of marine safety schools.
The committee chairman said that LASWA should be well funded to enable it perform its statutory functions effectively.
Mr Bisi Yusuff, the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts (Local), moved for the adoption of the report, which was seconded by the Deputy Chief Whip, Mrs Omotayo Oduntan.
The Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Segun Abiru to forward a clean copy of the recommendations to the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and the Ministry of Transportation.
Obasa also directed that another copy should be sent to the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the House adjourned its sitting till Tuesday. (NAN)