Prince (Dr.) Ifalade Oyekan, general manager of the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Agency (LNSA), has hinted that a cooperation with the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) may soon be formed to supplement the work of other security organisations guarding the State’s waterways.
Oyekan remarked as he greeted Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, General Manager of LASWA, who was paying the Agency a courtesy call at the Safety Arena Complex headquarters in Bolade, Oshodi. He described the relationship between the two State agencies as a positive development.
Prince Oyekan lamented the excessive frequency of illegal activities being committed on Lagos waterways, including crude oil theft, drug dealing, and kidnapping among others, and emphasised that LNSA will collaborate closely with LASWA to offer additional protection on Lagos Waterways.
In his words: “The request of LASWA at this critical time is a welcome development. Just like LASWA, LAMATA had equally requested collaboration with the agency. LAMATA wants LNSA officers to be on board their bus and train services to provide security for the passengers”.
The General Manager insisted that the collaboration with LASWA will foster fresh approaches to LNSA’s information collection and significantly improve the security situation on Lagos’s waterways.
He expressed gratitude to the LASWA delegation for coming and appreciated Governor Babajide Sanwo-support Olu’s for the Agency, emphasising that this support from the State Government has enabled LNSA to achieve great success.
Earlier, Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, General Manager of LASWA, praised LNSA for its continuing rebranding and emphasised the significance of safety and security to the socioeconomic development of the State.
He stated his support for working with the Agency, highlighting the advantages of working with LNSA for LASWA, notably in the areas of intelligence gathering, investigation, and mitigation.
The LNSA Waterways Guards and other security personnel are present on the waterways in Lagos, Emmanuel continued, stressing that LNSA officers must be stationed at jetties and aboard boats for surveillance and increased security on the waterways.
As he thanked Mr. Governor for his foresight and magnanimity towards the institution, Prince Oyekan assured that the State Waterways will be safer with the newly constituted Marine Corps of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Agency.