The Lagos State Government has procured over 5,000 drones which it has already connected to its Command Control Centre with CCTV equipment and mobile CCTV equipment to enhance security and safety in the state.
The Director-General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu revealed this while inaugurating 10 additional boats procured to boost rescue operations and protect the lives of citizens in the state on Thursday.
He added that the drones will be deployed for monitoring of the waterways.
According to him, for Lagos citizens to enjoy the dividends of democracy, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, have promised safety of lives and properties holistically.
“You will realise that three quarters of Lagos State is made of water bodies, although we have efficient Waterways Authority but today we are inaugurating our marine rescue units.
“Our Shore base in Lekki will be the Headquarters of Marine Rescue Unit of LASEMA and we are operating from four jetties such as Lekki, Ikorodu, Ilaje-Bariga and Ijegun-Egba.
“We have 26 jetties in Lagos State and five terminals, over 100 operators and out of the operators 90 per sent of them are private while the remaining 10 per cent terminals are government owned.
“Today the daily movement of passenger on Waterways is about 70,000 daily while monthly is about 1.5 million. 15 of our 57 local governments are accessed through the waterways,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
He said that the governor was optimistic of safety of lives and properties on its waterways, adding that he had purchased sophisticated equipment like ambulance boats, rescue boats, drones and others to ensure that 20 million lives of the citizens were safe.