The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) are collaborating to enhance safety standards, improve incident investigations, and boost operational efficiency.
The General Manager of LASWA and Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Blue Economy, Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, said this in a statement on Tuesday.
Emmanuel said that the decision to collaborate was reached when NSIB officials paid a courtesy visit to LASWA at the authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
He said both organisations engaged in productive discussions on enhancing safety oversight, fostering information sharing and promoting capacity building.
Emmanuel said that the discussions were also on developing frameworks for improved accident prevention and response in the inland waterways.
“There is great importance in inter-agency collaboration in advancing Lagos State Government’s commitment to safe, efficient, and sustainable water transportation.
“The waterways sector continues to play a critical role in the state’s transportation ecosystem, making it imperative for relevant stakeholders to work together in promoting safety, operational excellence and public confidence,” he said.
The NSIB Director-General, Capt. Alex Badeh, who led the delegation, highlighted the bureau’s mandate of promoting transport safety through independent investigations and safety recommendations.
Badeh said that collaboration with LASWA would further strengthen efforts to identify safety risks, prevent accidents and improve overall safety culture on waterways.
He said that the discussions equally focused on potential areas of partnership, including safety data exchange, joint safety awareness initiatives, and training programmes.
Other areas of collaboration include incident reporting mechanisms, emergency response coordination, and technical support in accident investigation and safety management systems.
Both organisations expressed commitment to fostering a strong working relationship that would contribute to safer waterways operations and support continued growth of water transport in Lagos State.