The Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, has sent a strong note of warning to all ferry Operators and their passengers to desist from travelling on the waterways after 6 pm.
The General Manager of the agency, Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel in a statement warned that any operator who violates the important instruction will be arrested by the Marine Police and his boat will be confiscated.
The warning came two days after a twenty passenger capacity commercial ferry with 20 passengers on board took off illegally from Èbúté Ẹrọ jetty at about few minutes past 8pm heading towards Ikorodu and ran into an unforeseen object on the Waterways causing the boat to capsize.
Mr. Emmanuel noted that those passengers on board of such boat shall be prosecuted in accordance with the relevant laws.
Mr. Emmanuel warned all Ferry Operators and passengers against violating the laid down rule of No Night travelling on the waterways.
According to report of the incident, fourteen people were rescued while six persons died and one person still missing.
The investigation carried out by the relevant agencies indicated that it was not clear if all the passengers are wearing proper life jackets when the boat took off after the daily closure of movements on the inland waterways.
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