Lagos Govt Commended For Improvements In Water Transportation

The Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters
of Nigeria (ATBOWATON) on Wednesday commended the Lagos State
Government on its efforts at improving water transportation in the
state.

Mr Tarzan Balogun, the association’s President, made the
commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
in Lagos.

He applauded the government’s initiative in putting all
necessary facilities/equipment in place to boost water
transportation across the riverine areas of the state.

Balogun cited the improvements to include the Navigating
machine, life jackets, water hyacinth clearing machines, clearing
of dirts on the waterways, construction of more jetties, deployment
of Marine Police personnel and providing more commercial boats on
waterways.

“These were some of the factors responsible for boat mishaps on
the waterways but the situation has been greatly improved upon by
the new initiatives by the state government.

“All these developments are commendable. The state government is
trying and we appreciate their efforts.

“But like the proverbial Oliver Twist, we will continue to crave
for more improvement, so that people can see water transportation
as a better alternative to road transportation,’’ he said.

Balogun, however, urged the government to patronise the local
boat manufacturing companies, instead of importation.

“It is cheaper to patronise local manufacturing companies than
to import boats, ferries and other facilities from overseas.

“The dollar exchange rate is not encouraging and patronising
locally made boats and ferries will boost the nation’s Gross
Domestic Product (GDP).

“It will also create employment opportunities for the citizenry
and increase government earnings,’’ he said.

According to him, his company, Tarzan Boats Manufacturing Ltd,
has been in business for the past 20years and has been
manufacturing several quality boats plying the waterways.

“We can do quality boats in the country that can compete
favourably with the imported ones.

“All we need now is government support and encouragement, by
giving us appropriate incentives required for mass production.

Balogun stressed the need for government to create filling
station along the coastal areas, to enable quick and easy access to
fuel for boat operators.

“It has been a daunting challenge to boat operators buying fuel
at filling stations. Often times, some of the boats stopped on the
waterways whenever they run out of petrol.

“We usually buy extra petrol in the reservoir at the office, for
emergencies. We need filling station close to us, for easier
access,’’ he said.

Balogun said that as part of his company’s social
responsibility, it had created three additional private floating
jetties at Badore, Lekki and Ijede, to support government
initiatives at improving water transportation across the state.

The Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters
of Nigeria (ATBOWATON) on Wednesday commended the Lagos State
Government on its efforts at improving water transportation in the
state.

Mr Tarzan Balogun, the association’s President, made the
commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
in Lagos.

He applauded the government’s initiative in putting all
necessary facilities/equipment in place to boost water
transportation across the riverine areas of the state.

Balogun cited the improvements to include the Navigating
machine, life jackets, water hyacinth clearing machines, clearing
of dirts on the waterways, construction of more jetties, deployment
of Marine Police personnel and providing more commercial boats on
waterways.

“These were some of the factors responsible for boat mishaps on
the waterways but the situation has been greatly improved upon by
the new initiatives by the state government.

“All these developments are commendable. The state government is
trying and we appreciate their efforts.

“But like the proverbial Oliver Twist, we will continue to crave
for more improvement, so that people can see water transportation
as a better alternative to road transportation,’’ he said.

Balogun, however, urged the government to patronise the local
boat manufacturing companies, instead of importation.

“It is cheaper to patronise local manufacturing companies than
to import boats, ferries and other facilities from overseas.

“The dollar exchange rate is not encouraging and patronising
locally made boats and ferries will boost the nation’s Gross
Domestic Product (GDP).

“It will also create employment opportunities for the citizenry
and increase government earnings,’’ he said.

According to him, his company, Tarzan Boats Manufacturing Ltd,
has been in business for the past 20years and has been
manufacturing several quality boats plying the waterways.

“We can do quality boats in the country that can compete
favourably with the imported ones.

“All we need now is government support and encouragement, by
giving us appropriate incentives required for mass production.

Balogun stressed the need for government to create filling
station along the coastal areas, to enable quick and easy access to
fuel for boat operators.

“It has been a daunting challenge to boat operators buying fuel
at filling stations. Often times, some of the boats stopped on the
waterways whenever they run out of petrol.

“We usually buy extra petrol in the reservoir at the office, for
emergencies. We need filling station close to us, for easier
access,’’ he said.

Balogun said that as part of his company’s social
responsibility, it had created three additional private floating
jetties at Badore, Lekki and Ijede, to support government
initiatives at improving water transportation across the state.