BY EBUN SESSOU

Succour has come the way of the Osolu of Irewe, a riverine community in Ojo local government, where six school children were drowned in water on Thursday July 2, 2015 as Lagos State Speaker, Rt. Hon Mudashiru Obasa gave the community 60 life jackets and cash gifts to the families of the deceased children.

In a condolence visit to the community, , Rt. Hon. Obasa assured the residents on adequate protection of lives and property within and outside their communities.
The Speaker, who was represented by the Deputy Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Omotayo Oduntan, pledged that the state government would not relent in providing basic amenities to its citizenry.

According to him, “We, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly condole with the residents of Irewe especially the families whose children were drowned in the water.
“We sympathize with you and pray God almighty would give the families of the deceased children fortitude to bear the lost”, she said.

Oduntan who presented 60 life jackets for the use of residents of the community and cash to the families of the deceased on behalf of the Speaker said, she hopes the gesture would go a long way to ameliorate the negative impact of the incident on the people of the community particularly families of the deceased children.

She however appealed to the traditional ruler to ensure that boat operators operate with the life jackets being provided for their passengers assuring that the state Waterways Management Authority will continue to live up to its statutory responsibilities of monitoring the jetties in the state.

Responding, the Osolu of Irewe, His Royal Highness Abideen Durosimi appealed to the state government to build boarding schools in the community to reduce the risk of children going to school daily through water transport.

He also enjoined the government to upgrade the health center within the community.

According to him, “There are 36 villages adjoining this community and there is need to improve basic infrastructure to cater for the people of this community and the adjoining villages.

Contributing, the Managing Director of the state Waterways Authority (LASWA) Mr. Yinka Marinho, said boat operators caught without life jacket would be prosecuted. He said his agency had provided life jackets for children and adults to be used by passengers of boats operating in the area.