ATBOWATON Laments Alleged Lagos Jetties Concession Irregularities

The Chairman, Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters (ATBOWATON),Lagos Chapter,Engineer Lawal Saheed has alleged that the Lagos State jetties concession process was shrouded in secrecy , calling for transparency in review of the effort which has put its members at disadvantage.

Saheed disclosed this while reacting on the concession of jetty terminals in the state , expressed bitterness about the neglect of ATBOWATON members in the bidding and allocation process.

He also noted that most beneficiaries are portfolio operators with no boats or experience in maritime operations.

According to a statement while responding to media enquires regarding the presence and role of its members on water transportation development in Lagos, Saheed:” Ikorodu jetty was given out to an organization without any experience in running jetties, so also Elegbeta, Ojo, Badagry, Epe and many others when ATBOWATON has members with track records and verifiable investment in the sector like Tarzan boats, Seacoach, Seacat and Texas connection.” Engineer Saheed stated.

Continuing, he stressed” Can you imagine operators with investments and presence worth millions of naira, paying levies to organisations without any visible contributions to water Transportation in Lagos? “

“These arrangements don’t even add value to passengers comfort or aid operators in any way other than just collect fees. It is very sad and we want the governor to look into the matter so to ensure justice is done,”he laments.

Saheed stated that the major objective of the members of association is to ensure the safety of water users and not profit making.

He also credited the members for selflessly pioneering the opening and sustainance of abandoned, unprofitable water ferry routes and discovery of new ones for the benefit of littoral communities in Lagos, there by helping the unreached rural areas to be reached.

” The history and role of atbowaton cannot be over emphasized as we are in the fore front of helping to develop rural Lagos and provide desirable and gainful boat ferry services to the people.

Our members are caterpillars of development, providing access to inter communial movement, supporting the state government in reaching the unreached from Victoria Island to Badore, Ikorodu, epe, Badagry, Ojo, Liverpool, Festac, Takwa Bay and many other places, bridging services and human movement with safety in sight and not profit.” Lagos chairman explained.

Engineer Saheed further added that ATBOWATON is partner to Lagos Government and had at various times stood in gap to provide succour to stranded Lagosians who lives close to water front communities and at critical times, intervened to keep abandoned jetties afloat and useable, spending their hard earned money.

” A lot of our members invested to broker new routes, and maintain access roads upland to most of jetties at no additional cost to government and people living by the waters or using same to reach their homes in the hinterlands.

Pioneers like our National President, Mr Tarzan Balogun invested so much in Badore, Ikorodu and even what we know as Victoria Island waterfront and there are also many small time operators that were consistent in providing services for the people to from the islands to mainland without which nobody can readily lay claim to the development of these places. Between Ijede, Badore, Ikorodu Epe, Badagry, and Victoria Island, our members can seen moving passengers in droves, putting safety ahead of other considerations.”

According to the Chairman, the presence of ATBOWATON members on Lagos waterways transportation and their importance cannot be demystified by any competition with acclaimed advantage which ATBOWATON members helped to enthrone and sustain.

He called on Lagos government to support ATBOWATON members to sustain the effective boat transport services across the length and breathe of state in order to open up more communities to development and job openings in tourism and recreation.

” Our members know the waters and the challenges, and has continued to offer more affordable services to poor rural communities in Lagos.

“And we want to thank NIWA for removing wrecks and abandoned vessels from the waterway which has contributed immensely to safety and near absence of accidents on the waterways in recent times.” he added.

Conservatively, according to the chairman, ATBOWATON collective can increase the percentage of passengers movement from its current hold of about 15 percent to 30 percent progressively over time if the taxes, levies and sundry charges of its members are reduced and also if access to financial palliatives are provided for the members to purchase new boats and accessories which have skyrocketed in recent times.

” I think time has truely come for lagosians to know how much sacrifice ATBOWATON members have made overtime to enthrone legacies on water transportation.

“As I said earlier, our members, particularly our president most at times deploy his cranes and hyarb to remove wrecks along Ikorodu channels and that is just one of many intervention we carry out to support the state government even during local government elections and health campaign to the rural areas, we give out our boats Probono as
Corporate Social Responsibility which our competitors are not known to do.

Dailyfocus Nigeria had reported exclusively that top ranking politicians from the South West region in Nigeria have indicated interest to invest massively in barge operations especially as it concerns Lagos waters.

Barge operations which is the current thriving business in the maritime industry due to dilapidated structures on the port corridors have been described as a gold mine investment by stakeholders in the maritime sector.

Investigations conducted by our correspondent last week revealed that at least six new jetties are currently under construction and may commence operations before for the end of third quarter .

Also , some abandoned jetties in some part of the riverine communities are also under reconstruction for the sole aim of barge operations.

Multiple sources also confirmed that the new jetties are owned by top politicians who are keenly interested in the thriving business .

Further checks also revealed that some of the politicians who have indicated interest have secured jetty space within the Mile 2, Kirikiri and Satellite axis of Lagos State.

Others are currently working on the completion of their Jetties in Lekki, Ajah , Ikorodu and Badore axis of the state.

It was also gathered that top politicians from the south west with portfolio like ministers, federal and state lawmakers and ex governors are deeply involved in the new phase of barge operations.

An operator who craved for anonymity told our correspondent that ” More jetties will spring up within the Apapa and Amuwo Odofin regions for the sole aim to accommodate barges in and out of the seaports.

“These locations are strategic because of the proximity to the seaports in Lagos and these jetties in question are not for small boys but big time politicians from the Lagos and other Yoruba states.”