On getting to the scene of the incident, the LASEMA Response Team, Lion Squad, at Agbowa discovered that a boat en route Ikorodu jetty terminal from Ebute – Ero (Lagos Island) via Lagos waterways capsized at the wee hours of Friday, 4th July 2020 at Ipakodo ferry terminal. Unfortunately, six adult females lost their lives to the incident and were recovered by local divers. The boat captain and his assistant could not be found as a search and rescue efforts are ongoing to recover the victims.
The 6 corpses have been deposited at Ikorodu General Hospital morgue. LASEMA Response Team, LRT, the Nigeria Police Force Ipakodo division, Lagos State Ambulance Services, LASAMBUS Officials and Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, Officials were the responders present at the incident scene.
All efforts by the LASEMA Team to get the manifest of the boat proved abortive as the LASWA Officials at Ikorodu jetty could not establish the number of passengers on board from Ebute – Ero.
Dr. Olufemi Damilola Osanyintolu, the Director-General/CEO LASEMA, noted that despite the huge investment of the State Government to encourage water transportation and the need for Lagosians to explore water transportation as an alternative means of transportation due to congestion on our roads, it is important for all passengers and boat operators to imbibe safety culture, and also comply with the rules and regulations of the regulatory bodies in charge of water transportation and safety in the State while noting that proper investigation is on ongoing by the security operatives to ascertain the real cause of the incident.
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