12th July, 2015
Eromosele Ebhomele
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has promised residents of riverine communities in the state adequate protection of lives and property within their communities.
Obasa made the pledge during a condolence visit to the Osolu of Irewe, a riverine community in Ojo Local Government Area of the state, Oba Abideen Durosimi, over the death of six school children who were drowned in a boat accident in the area on Thursday, 2 July, 2015.
The Speaker, who was represented by the Deputy Chief Whip of the House, Omotayo Oduntan, said that the state government would not relent in providing basic amenities to its citizenry.
The Deputy Chief Whip led other members including Lanre Ogunyemi, representing Ojo State Constituency 2; Mosunmola Sangodara, the Minority Whip and representative of Surulere State Constituency 2; and Hakeem Bello, the Minority Leader and representative of Amuwo-Odofin Constituency 2.
Oduntan said: “we members of the Lagos State House of Assembly are here to console with you and the entire residents over the tragedy that happened where six school children drowned in a boat accident.
“On behalf of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, and members as well as the staff of the Assembly, we sympathise with you and pray God almighty would give the families of the deceased children fortitude to bear the lost.
“We are also here to present to you, 60 life jackets for the use of residents of the community and cash to the families of the deceased on behalf of the Speaker and we hope this gesture would go a long way to ameliorate the negative impact of the incident on the people of this community particularly families of the deceased children.
The Speaker however appealed to the traditional ruler to ensure that boat operators should operate with the life jackets being provided for their
passengers assuring that the state Waterways Management Authority will continue live up to its statutory responsibilities of monitoring the jetties in the state.
Responding, the Osolu of Irewe, Oba Abideen Durosimi, appealed to the state government to build boarding schools in the community to reduce the risk of children going to school daily through water transport.
He also enjoined the government to upgrade the health centre within the community.
“There are 36 villages adjoining this community and there is need to improve basic infrastructure here to cater for the people of this community the adjoining villages,” he said.
Contributing, the Managing Director of the state Waterways Authority, LASWA, Mr. Yinka Marinho, warned that henceforth, boat operators caught without life jacket would be prosecuted.
He said his agency had provided life jackets for children and adults to be used by passengers of boats operating in the area.
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