FG, Lagos state move to resolve impasse over control of waterways
.. As Mamora says no fight between NIWA, Lagos Govt.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Lagos State government have agreed to resolved the lingering dispute over control of Lagos waterways.
The managing director of NIWA, Senator Olorunibe Mamora who stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode at Alausa, today noted that there is no fight between the authority and the Lagos State Government over who controls the waterways in the state.
Mamora who led the NIWA team said the issues such as revenue drive, right of way, sensitisation and advocacy for waterways users would be addressed.
Mamora stated these when he and his NIWA team paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode at Alausa, today.
NIWA boss who was accompanied by the Lagos area manager of NIWA, Mr. Muazu Sambo and other bigwigs, told the Governor that he and his team are came to Alausa to chat the way forward on the issue of inland waterways in the state and how to serve the people better.
My friend in the media have been asking to know what i would do as the new managing director of the authority to resolve the fight between NIWA and Lagos State as it concerns water transportation in the state and i have always told them that there is no fight between the two, he said.
According to him, “There is no fight at all .Though there is a case between the two entities in court, there is no fight all. It was just a disagreement and it is not unusual.”
“We are here to see you so that we including you can raise the bar. We are not here for ourselves but for the people. We will resolve the issues amicably. I have told them that I am going to start from the top down.”
He told the governor that he and the Commissioner for Transportation had an informal discussion on the issues, adding that today NIWA has come to make it official by paying courtesy visit to the Governor.
He continued that, “I can say that the wetting of the ground have stated with the informal discussion he had with the Commissioner for Transportation.”
Some of the issues raised with Governor Ambode include: revenue drive, waterways infrastructure, sensitisation and advocacy for waterways users.
Mamora, who was the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, stated that NIWA had been able to sensitise waterways users and operators on the need to act in accordance with the Waterways Code.
He disclosed that most time the accident which occurred on the waterways were due largely to failure by users to comply with Waterways Code such as overloading, operating boats at night(night sailing) , failure to wear life jacket among others.
He stated that NIWA had reached out to operators, waterway users and communities as part of its sensitisation efforts at making the water transportation safer in the state.
In his response, Governor Ambode said he is in total support of the measures the NIWA managing director is employing to address the issues raised.
Governor Ambode said: “I give my total support irrespective of the legal tussle between the NIWA and Lagos State. I give my commitment and support. I have given the go ahead to my officers to go ahead and sit down and address the grey areas.”
“It is a great delight to welcome back home our distinguish Senator and former speaker of the Lagos State House Assembly. We have been planning to have this meeting but we have not been able to but thank God we are having it today.”
He continued that, “We were very happy when we heard about your appointment and we know that it is divine.”
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