The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) has embarked on a comprehensive mapping of the entire Lagos waterways to improve safety and prevent accidents.
In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, LASWA’s General Manager, Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, shared that the initiative aims to identify abandoned dredging pipes and remove them to avoid potential hazards.
“We have mapped the entire waterways in Lagos to locate dredging pipes and plan their removal. It’s important to get rid of these wrecks to prevent accidents,” Emmanuel stated.
He urged dredging companies to be more responsible with their equipment, emphasizing the importance of removing dredging pipes once their work is completed.
“Why would you abandon your equipment on the waterways? There are other users of the waterways. My clear message to every dredging company is to think about the next user of the waterways,” he said.
In addition to improving safety on the waterways, Emmanuel also addressed the issue of gender imbalance within LASWA. Reflecting on the agency’s progress, he noted that women have played a crucial role in LASWA’s successes.
“When I came into LASWA, there were maybe four or five women. Over time, I saw a gender imbalance in terms of numbers,” Emmanuel explained, highlighting the strides made toward balancing gender representation in the agency.