Comply with waterways laws within 7 days, Lagos tells boat operators, dredgers

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The Lagos State Government has issued a seven-day ultimatum to boat operators, dredgers and stakeholders in the inland waterways sector to comply with laws regulating their operations or be ready to face sanctions.

  Speaking at a press  conference in Lagos on Tuesday, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, explained that the state government was pleased with the recent  court judgment on the issue.

  He was accompanied by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde; Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Ade Akinsanya; Managing Director of Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Abisola Kamson; and the Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State Ferry Services, Paul Kalejaye.

  He said: “Looking at the import of these laws which you can find in the constitution is that the Federal Government controls maritime and international navigation which is to clear the high seas for international carriers to be able to move freely.

“In so far as bodies of water within a state do not obstruct those international routes, those bodies of water within the exclusive preserve of the state are left to their control and that is what that Appeal Court judgment affirmed. It said clearly that the Lagos State House of Assembly has powers to legislate on its intra-inland waterways and the LASWA Law is very clear about its powers and authority to control boat operation”.
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