The Lagos State Government says it has procured 5,000 thousand drones for search and rescue operations on the waterways. Director General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, made this known at the inauguration of Marine Rescue Units in four Jetties in the state. The Jetties are situated in Lekki, Ijegun-Egba, Ikorodu and Ilaje-Bariga.
The inauguration of marine rescue equipment was held at Lekki Marine Rescue Unit also known as the Shark Rescue Unit. According to Oke-Osanyintolu, the development was to ensure the safety of lives in case of emergency on Lagos waterways.
He said that heavy and light equipment had been purchased and deployed to the units while jet skis, rescue boats, ambulance boats and drones would also be deployed for more efficient operations.
The General Manager of Lagos State Waterways Authority, (LASWA), Damilola Emmanuel, commended the initiative and promised more collaboration with other stakeholders to ensure safety on the waterways.
He appealed to users of the waterways to always put on their life jackets while on board to safeguard them in case of accident. A simulation exercise depicting rescue operations was carried out at the Lekki jetty.
