Fashola Enjoins Lagosians To Protect Waterways

Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has enjoined Lagosians to join hands with his administration to protect the state’s waterways.

The governor who made the call at the end of the third Lagos water regatta at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Sunday, said the asset represents great opportunities for the people of the state.

Addressing Lagosians from all walks of life as well as foreign dignitaries and tourists after the events which included swimming competitions, boat and kayak races as well as ski displays, Governor Fashola noted that the waterways represent a great opportunity to take advantage of for their cultural, tourism, business, transportation and general survival needs.

He made a case for the proper maintenance of the waterways and called on the citizens to protect it in the overall interest of the state.

“I want to implore all of you to join me, to join our government to protect these waterways. This is not a place to dump refuse. This is not a place to dump waste, especially the communities who bound this waterway; Ikoyi, Lekki, Oworosonki and all of you, let all of us be the police men of this waterway,” the governor said.

Commending the management and staff of the water arm of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) for continuously clearing the water of wastes being dumped by residents, Governor Fashola urged them not to rest on their oars as the battle to protect the asset was an endless one.

He commended the citizens for adjusting to the realities of climate change and urged them to continue to live with the challenges of the natural phenomenon. “We are living with the realities of climate change, increasing water levels rising across the world. But we have seen our swimmers, we have seen our canoeists and our Kayakists and it shows the capacity of the people of this land, this great island, to adapt to water,” the governor said.

On the use of the waterways for transportation, Governor Fashola noted with satisfaction that the state has improved water transportation and made it the choice of the people. He noted that the water transportation capabilities of the state are growing.

“Whereas about 200, 000 people were ferried on the state’s waterways monthly four and a half years ago, over 1.2 million people are currently being ferried monthly on the waterways,” he disclosed.

Governor Fashola thanked the sponsors of the event who, according to him, have lent their facilities, their finance, their products and their time to making the festival successful.

On the significance of the event, Governor Fashola who described it as a colourful display of culture, said Lagos State offers every law abiding resident the opportunity to be what he or she wishes to be adding, “as long as you live by the rules”.

“It is only a place like Lagos that provides the opportunity for you to be all you can and allows you to be who you can. As long as you live by the rules and you are within the law, the rich diversity of this State offers a space for every law abiding citizen”, Governor Fashola said.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Chairman of the Planning Committee of the Lagos Water Regatta 2012, Engineer Olusegun Jawando the Regatta is a water based cultural, sporting and recreational activities planned to showcase what the State’s various coastal communities have to offer in terms of water sports and cultural beauty.

He noted that the show had gone through some innovations which, unlike the last two editions, has made it more colourful and better part of which are the addition of a Regatta Village situated on Oyinkan Abayomi Drive and four viewing centres – the Peninsula, the Caverton, the Civic Centre and the Lekki Pavilion – where specially invited guests would enjoy the full view of the event.

“The Regatta is all about quality fun and providing the atmosphere to unwind under the ripe natural ambience”, the Chairman said adding that participation in the event include Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), all Boat Clubs in Lagos, boat and ferry operators in Lagos and representatives of riverside communities in Lagos.

The highlights of the colourful event included swimming competitions for both men and women, boat, and kayak race and power boat and jet skis display as well as the traditional Boat Regatta.

Those who took part in the Regatta included Lekki community, Epe Community, Ejinrin, Agbowa-Ikosi, Isale Eko, Campos, Badagry, Ijaw Community, Skye-Bank, Lekki Free Zone, Ijede Community, Olowogbowo, Ibasa community, Igbologun, Obaship Institution and Lagos Island LGA, among others.

Also present at the event were members of the State Executive Council including the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze, his Information and Strategy counterpart, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Mrs. Florence Oguntuase, former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba, Traditional rulers members of the Diplomatic Community and other top government functionaries and Private Sector Operators.