The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) says it has clamped down on illegal barge operators along the Mile 2 area of the state waterways.
The General Manager of LASWA, Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, made this known on Wednesday in a statement in Lagos.
Emmanuel, also Leader of the Enforcement Team, said that the authority’s Enforcement Team on COVID-19 Waterways Operational Guidelines, discovered the illegal operations during a routine patrol.
He said that 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 serious threat to 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.
