In Lagos, the State government has inaugurated monitoring gadgets and infrastructure to enhance security across the State’s waterways transportation network.
The facilities include Waterways Monitoring and Data Management Centre; a centralised monitoring base to generate real-time information, enhance safety and gather data for continuous improvement of the inland waterways, an advanced DJI Aerial Drone for surface surveillance and BlueEye Pro drone for underwater search and rescue operations, automatic U-SAFE rescuing gadgets for emergency evacuation and two additional.pattol boats.
Governor Sanwo-Olu who performed the ceremony at the Headquarters of the Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, in Falomo, Ikoyi said the measure was in line with his administration’s commitment to ensure safety on the waterways
According to Governor Sanwo-Olu the facilities demonstrate his administration’s unparalleled commitment to providing a viable alternative transport solution that would complement other modes: rail and road transport systems.
“These gadgets are acquired and installed to consolidate our efforts in making our waterways safer for its users and making monitoring activities seamless. It also demonstrates our unparalleled commitment to providing a viable alternative transport solution that will complement other modes. This is the investment we will continue to make, in addition to building additional jetties. In the coming weeks, we will be commissioning eight newly built jetties out of the 15 we are currently building.” he said
In a remark, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Frederic Oladeinde, pointed out that the facilities would ensure speedy response to emergencies on the waterways and give more confidence to residents to embrace water transportation thereby, further decongesting traffic on Lagos roads.
In an address of welcome, LASWA Managing Director, Mr. Damilola Emmanuel who said some offenders were caught while test running the equipment at the monitoring and data management centre, explained that the search and rescue units which are equiped with floating clinics would be situated strategically in the three senatorial districts of the state, namely Ipakodo in Ikorodu, Ijegun Egba and Falomo.
“The WMDMC has a multi-sensor, multi-layer continuous surveillance with fully integrated fusion. It can detect and track any vessel of any size. It can identify all boats, automatically monitor vessel activities and send alerts on any illegal or suspicious behaviour. The centre can generate digitised information files available on any vessel containing the entire history, ownership, and licensing. It is equipped with an integrated and automated system integrated with alerts to enable efficient operator handling of events. It also allows field operators to check and verify vessel identities and pass to external parties.” Mr Emmanuel expatiated.
He announced that so far, only two accidents have been recorded on the waterways this year due to the success of safety measures instituted by the current administration to check such occurrences.
There was a live simulation of the use of the emergency device and the search and rescue drone.
Rail Transportation Will be Operational ~Sanwo-Olu Insists
Meanwhile, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured Lagosians that the blue line rail would commence passenger operations unfailing this December.
He gave the assurance during the inauguration of water ways safety equipment for the use of the State Waterways Authority, LASWA.
The Governor said prior to its full operations, Lagosians would have advantage of boarding the trains free of charge.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also promised that his administration would complete and hand over the red line, which his administration started construction of, before May 29.
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