Lagos State Government declares it would distribute 5,000 life jackets to commercial boat operators in the state for commuters’ use.

The Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr. Cornelius Ojelabi, made the disclosure on Friday at a stakeholders meeting in Lagos.

He said the state government decided to buy and distribute the life jackets because of the frequent boat mishaps and loss of lives.

According to him, “Governor Babatunde Fashola has in order to assist operators who cannot afford to buy life jackets for the safety of the people agreed to supply the jackets for the use of citizens.

Ojelabi added that once the jackets are distributed to operators, anybody caught commuting on any water transportation without a jacket will be prosecuted according to the law.

The commissioner however urged council administrators to educate their people on the importance of using the jackets and to enforce its use in their respective areas, stressing that the state will not wait until there is a disaster before it enforces the use of the jackets.