Wreck: LASWA challenges NIWA to show evidence of removal

The General Manager of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) Mr. Damilola Emmanuel, has claimed that the contribution to waterways development in Lagos State by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) is minimal. The LASWA boss also challenged NIWA to show proof of wreck removal from the Lagos waterways in recent time.

Mr. Damilola Emmanuel, in a recent chat with some journalists said despite the fact that Lagos is the major revenue generating area of the federal agency, its infrastructural development in the state does not justify the revenue.

While saying that LASWA removed wrecks from the Lagos waterways every year, it challenged NIWA to show evidence of wreck removal from the Lagos waterways in recent times.

According to the LASWA General Manager, “How many wrecks have the Federal Government removed in Lagos state? Let them provide the evidence and let us see.

“I am telling you that if you do your findings properly, you will find out who exactly is removing wrecks in Lagos

“I don’t want to go into all of that but because we know we must respect the Federal Government, we find a way to have a cordial relationship. I am sure you have not heard of any fight in recent time. It is because we find a way of managing the relationship. Where two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.”

The LASWA helmsman further stated that the major concern of the state is waterways development, adding that the state is spending billions of naira to achieve the feat.

He harped on the need for NIWA to increase its contribution to waterways development in Lagos as the state is the major revenue hub of the federal agency.

In his words, “Our own is about development of the inland waterways and to us, that is critical and the state government is spending billions every year on that. From channelisation to infrastructure upgrade, to ferry services; many things that are happening in the inland waterways shows that the Lagos State government is interested in the sector.

“Everyone has what they are contributing but I can only speak for myself because I am in LASWA and not in NIWA. To a certain extent, they are also contributing their own quota but it is never enough because the waterways require a lot more to be done.

“I rate them on the fact that they are doing their best but they can still do more. We as state government want them to do more because they have the capacity, they are generating significant revenue from here and Lagos is their major revenue generating area so, they need to do more but we as LASWA, of course, cooperate with them and plead with them to do more,” he submitted.

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