Lagos Ramps Up Water Transport With Local Boat Production, Advanced Monitoring

• Lagos State boosts water transportation initiatives
• Plans to build more locally-made boats for safer and efficient water travel
• Leverages technology for real-time monitoring of waterways

Eko Hot Blog reports that in a concerted effort to bolster water transportation, the Lagos State Government is leaving no stone unturned, implementing safer, efficient, and sustainable strategies. Among the initiatives is the plan to build more locally-made boats, as revealed during a tour of the Lagos State Waterways Monitoring and Data Management Centre (WMDMC) Control Room.

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During the tour, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, affirmed the state’s commitment to making water transportation a viable and reliable option for Lagosians. “Various strategies are to be implemented by the State Government to make water transportation a viable and reliable option for Lagosians,” he stated.

Elaborating on the WMDMC control room’s functions, the General Manager of LASWA, Mr. Damilola Emmanuel, explained, “The control room was set up to manage movement on the Inland Waterways.” He highlighted the control room’s various sections, including a Command-and-Control, Vessel Tracking System, Radio and Video Communication Network, and Tidal Gauge Monitoring System, all responsible for round-the-clock monitoring of four jetty locations in Ikorodu, Ebute Ero, Liverpool, and Falomo.

“The data cameras capture real-time incidences as far as 2.5 kilometers range from the jetties, checking mishaps and impediments on the waterways,” Emmanuel added, revealing plans to extend the monitored locations to five more to enhance safety on the inland waterways.

To assess real-time safety measures, the tour entourage, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Olawale Musa, LASWA boat operators, and Caverton Marine representatives, embarked on a boat ride to Badore Ferry Terminal to inspect the boat yard where the construction of the ferries is taking place.

During the 35-minute boat ride, Musa hinted that the State Government finds it more economical to patronize local boat builders, stating, “The State Government finds it more economical to patronising the local boat builders to build its boats, which can not be compared to the higher cost of purchasing same from outside the country.”

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At the boat yard, the Chief Executive Officer of Caverton Offshore, Olabode Makanjuola, explained that the boats were built in line with international standards, and about 15 newly built boats will soon be launched and put into use on the inland waterways.

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