Third Mainland Bridge Closure: Lagos Tightens Security On Waterways, Deploys Rescue Boats, Ambulances

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency has said the state government has concluded arrangements to tighten security on the waterways and ensure safety in anticipation of increase in number of passengers ahead of the closure of the Third Mainland Bridge for repairs.

The Director General of LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, who said this in a statement on Monday said his agency would position ambulances, rescue boats and other safety equipment at strategic places on the waterways to ensure safety of passengers in case of any incident.

He stated that LASEMA and other stakeholders conducted an inspection on the waterways on Sunday to ensure that the waterways were ready for the increase in passengers expected beginning from July 24.

The LASEMA boss warned boat operators and passengers against overloading and refusal to wear apporipate life jackets anytime they were traveling on the water no matter the distance.

He said the state government was working ahead to ease the traffic which the closure of the bridge would cause, saying water transport was an alternative to road, stressing that it was safe and faster. He encourage Lagosians to use the alternative to reduce traffic on the road.

The statement read in part, “Five Days to 3rd Mainland Bridge Partial Closure, LASEMA, Stakeholders Conduct Safety Inspection Five days ahead of the partial closure of 3rdMainland Bridge on Friday, 24th July, 2020, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA and the Lagos State Safety Commission today conducted a joint inspection of strategic jetties and terminal to monitor safety procedures.

“The action is coming on the heels of a series of meetings between LASEMA and other safety Agencies,where the DG/CEO LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, declared LASEMA’s state of readiness, alongside its first responders who have all been placed on high alert with appropriate equipment, for the upcoming period. According to Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu, the collaboration between

“LASEMA and other Lagos State Safety Agencies involved in the inspection of jetties, was a necessary move to ensure implementation of safety protocols ahead of this week’s partial closure of the 3rd Mainland Bridge from Friday 24th July, 2020 to 24th January, 2021.

“This action is in line with other strategies mapped out by LASEMA for deployment of its highly trained and efficient staff which will be backed by the maximal application of its equipment and supported with appropriate technology to ensure all-round safety of Lagosians on land and water during the period of partial closure of the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge.

“Boat operators should not use our waterways after 7pm. Boat operators should also maintain stipulated capacity, ensure they have the mandatory life jackets as part of necessary safety measures.

“LASEMA would position its ambulances and rescue boats at strategic locations in conjunction with the Lagos State Waterways Authority and maintain a 24-hour watch by its Marine Unit, especially between the peak periods of 6:30am and 7:00pm daily as a lot more passengers travel the alternate routes and waterways, during the partial closure of Lagos Third Mainland Bridge. “