NIWA Cautions Boat Operators In Badagry, As ATBOWATON Inaugurates Gbaji Yeke Jetty

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has warned boat operations in Badagry not to use the newly commissioned jetty in Gbaji Yeke for crime and other illegalities .

 

 

NIWA Lagos Area Manager, Engineer Sarat Lara Braimah, disclosed this in a statement made available to our correspondent in Lagos, while speaking at the commissioning of  a boat jetty at Gbaji Yeke, Badagry West Local Government Area of the state.

 

 

Engineer Shehu  Shuaibu, who stood in  for Area Manager commended the association and the Gbaji Yeke jetty facilitator, Engineer Joseph Phillip for the construction of jetty , warned that the facility must not  be used for illegal activities such as smuggling or to aid anti developmental activities.

 

Engineer Shuaibu further stated that the NIWA Area Office in Lagos, will mount surveillance on the use of the jetty and others such like; and warned boat operators to strictly adhere to the use of the orange coloured life jacket sanctioned by International Maritime Organisation (IMO), noting that NIWA lagos will began massive enforcement from the month of May.

 

” NIWA has noticed the growing trend of various colours of life jackets in use by boat operators and hereby send  notice that it will no longer be business as usual as we shall begin enforcement from next month to enable association members to comply.” he he stressed.

 

 

President, Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), Mr Gani Tarzan Balogun said the jetty will assist in the ease  and safety of growing members of boat operations and water users in the area.

 

Speaking at the newly commissioned jetty witnessed by all ATBOWATON Lagos State Zonal chairmen and members, Mr Gani Tarzan Balogun, praised the initiatives of the Gbaji Yeke jetty facilitator, Engineer Joseph Phillip  for putting up the facility, constructed in line with  extant safety regulations of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

 

Balogun reiterated that under his watch as ATBOWATON President, more of such water transportation facilities will be provided by prominent  members of the association across the state to help rural littoral communities to commute to and from other riverine areas, and the city centres, thereby driving development, speedy growth of the rural areas and creating jobs.

 

” As much we appreciate the support given to us to manage some jetties in Lagos by NIWA and Lagos State  government, we are not unrelenting in our support to provide more jetties to most unreached communities in the state as veritable partners to national and states water transportation development agenda,” stating” even though it’s an expensive venture, ATBOWATON believes that it  is part of our mandate to help unlock and link the treasures in most remote communities in Lagos and help drive rural development and create jobs”

 

The President also commended the dedication and sacrifice of the Badagry Chapter Chairman of ATBOWATON, Mr Tope Fajemirokun for making Badagry the new bride of water transportation in Lagos State, adding that Gbaji Yeke jetty will help to solve the demand for additional jetty facilities in and around the very strategic intra water transportation ecology between Badagry West Local Government , Ogun state and Porto Novo.

 

 

 

 

Earlier in his very brief welcome address, Engineer Joseph Phillip explained that the Gbaji Yeke jetty initiative was primarily to help open up the community which is at the heart and center of Badagry West local government for development and to create jobs for both the young and old, adding that his boat Operation known as “Only God”,  needs a jetty hub in the area  to  effectively provide water transportation services to its growing clients and for  other boat operators under ATBOWATON leadership.

 

The hall mark of the event which later assumed a carnival like atmosphere with the arrival of  friends, stakeholders and well wishers, is the presentation of the association operational licence and bill board to Engineer Joseph Phillip and his “Only God” boat services to operate and exclusively supervise the Gbaji Yeke jetty.