By Michael Olatunji
A massive cleanup campaign, aimed at sensitizing all relevant stakeholders along the state’s coastline to the evils of pollution, indiscriminate waste disposal and other forms of abuses of the Lagos lagoon began on Wednesday.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu who flagged off the exercise at the Five Cowries Terminal, the Headquarters of the Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, said the campaign is to put s stop to marine litters by sensitizing the public in the “potential consequences of their actions on the waterways.
“He equally hinted of plans by the government to Betty a waterway transportation policy that will ensure regular cleanup and protection of the state’s waterways against all forms of environmental degradation and abuses that may impede the wellbeing of the people.
Describing the exercise ss the first phase of what will become a year round exercise, Sanwo-Olu said the campaign will be felt across the five major corridors of the state’s water routes.
Other areas where the sensitisation campaign will be vigorous are the 15km of city beach between the Kuramo waters, Victoria Island and Lekki conservation Centre, the 25 km between Ilubirin and Periwinkle Estate, in Ikate, and the 4.8 drainage channel outfalls all of which falls within the Lagos-East senatorial district.
Sanwo-Olu who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Transportation Dr Frederic Oladeinde said a cleaned waterways will impact positively on the safety of the waterways and water transport system as well preserve the lives of people living in yhe riverine communities as well and the actual marine lives.
Daramola Emmanuel, fourth left, with members of the boat operators, at Ebute Ero during the sensitization campaign on Wednesday
He said: “In order to sustain the war against the multifaceted marine litters on our waterways, it has become necessary for everyone to come together and proffer lasting solution to yhe sources of the challenges milktating against improved water transportation system.
“This according to him is in line with the administration’s commitment to a water transportation that is safe, clean, friendly in terms of efficiency and service delivery.
He commended LASWA and other sister agencies for coming up with the idea of enlightening members if the public on the dangers inherent in indiscriminate disposal of waste into the lagoon, reduction of accidents on the waterways by ensuring free flow of movement on the waterways as well as the protection of lives of acquatic animals.
He said water transportation remains a major component of the government’s vision for a multi modal transport system that would mert the transportation needs of an estimated population of over 22 million people in an emerging smart city.
This Sanwo-Olu emphasised underscored the reason why the government had continued to invest massively in water transportation in it’s bid to use it to unlock traffic gridlocks in the metropolis.
“We are determined to leave no stone unturned in our commitment to ease commuter’s movement, promote the growth of commerce and economic activities, save travel time and reduce traffic induced stress to the barest for healthy living of the people,” he added.
He said the government launched eight brand new ferries at Badore to bring the number of ferries owned by LAGFERRY to 14, while six additional routes are to be added to the existing one as the government is determined to expand water routes for maximum optimisation.
He said government is determined to explore to the fullest the state’s rich aquatic endowment and make navigable it’s 287 km long Atlantic coastline and it’s extensive lagoon system which constitute about 22 percent of the state’s land mass.
He said marine litters such as the state is launching a campaign against is rooted in inappropriate solid water disposal, product design that does not consider the life-cycle impact, accidental loss or intentioned dumping of fishing tests or ship wrecks ss well as poor public understanding of the consequences of such dumping on the waterways.
He added that the government is obliged to protect many Lagosians especially those living g in the rural coastal communities who still live a subsistence lives close to the lagooon shores.
Earlier the LASWA’s General Manager Damilola Emmanuel praised the state government for its commitment to the waterways.
He said the clean up will be sustained through the activities of the LAWMA marine as well as aggressive sensitisation campaign that will see it’s officials engage traders, market men and women to stop the habit of dumping their refuse in the lagoon.
He reiterated that the policy being put together by the government will contain penalties against defaulters.
He urged Lagosians to stop the habit of indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the environment as these if not properly disposed end up in the state’s water bodies impending aquatic and other marine lives.
LASWA also unveiled society celebrities such as first runner up in the Big Brother Naija 2018, Bisola as LASWA ambassador on clean up of the waterway.
