ATBOWATON demands jetties, fuel subsidies, financial support for Lagos boat operators
Maureen Aguta
The Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), Lagos State Chapter, has urged the incoming Lagos State Government to expand water transportation infrastructure, introduce fuel subsidies and provide financial assistance to operators to boost the state’s blue economy.
The association also called for subsidised boat engines and flexible repayment schemes to enable operators whose businesses have been crippled by faulty engines, damaged boats and other operational challenges to recover.
The demands were made at a political awareness programme organised by ATBOWATON in collaboration with its national leadership, where operators and stakeholders engaged government representatives and political leaders on policies to promote water transportation and improve their livelihoods.
Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Governor’s Special Adviser on Blue Economy, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, represented by Oladayo Ibrahim, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to positioning Lagos as a leading maritime and water transportation hub.
He identified the Omi Eko Project as a major initiative aimed at transforming the sector through modern ferry infrastructure, electric-powered vessels, improved terminals, waterway dredging and digital transportation systems.
Emmanuel, however, stressed the importance of ensuring that existing operators were not sidelined in the emerging opportunities, urging them to embrace professionalism, innovation, safety standards and regulatory compliance.
He also encouraged members of the association to remain politically conscious and participate actively in democratic processes, noting that government policies directly affect their businesses and livelihoods.
“As Special Adviser on Blue Economy, I reaffirm our commitment to strengthening stakeholder engagement and working with relevant institutions to create an enabling environment for the growth of the sector,” he said.
The Founding National Chairman of ATBOWATON, Dr Tarzan Balogun, called for stronger measures to improve safety on the waterways, warning that frequent accidents could erode public confidence and discourage commuters from embracing water transportation.
He urged operators to prioritise passenger safety and ensure that commuters enjoyed secure and comfortable journeys.
Balogun commended the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) for their monitoring activities and provision of safety equipment, particularly life jackets.
He also advocated stronger collaboration among federal, state and local governments to address the challenges confronting the sector.
Similarly, Chairman of Oriade Local Council Development Area, Rasaq Olotede, commended successive Lagos State administrations for investments in water transportation infrastructure, particularly the construction of jetties and terminals across the Badagry Division.
He cited the terminals at Ilashe, Ibeshe and Kirikiri Town as notable interventions that had improved water transportation in the area.
Olotede also praised boat operators for complying with safety regulations and acknowledged the contributions of LASWA and the Marine Police to monitoring and enforcement on the waterways.
The Deputy Chairman of ATBOWATON, Lagos State Chapter, Babatunde Segun, expressed appreciation to the outgoing state government for addressing some of the challenges confronting operators, particularly inadequate jetties, poor access to fuel and dangerous debris on waterways.
He recalled that operators previously travelled long distances to access suitable jetties before the government intervened by providing additional facilities and supporting the establishment of fuel stations around waterways.
Segun also commended the joint efforts of the state and federal governments in clearing dangerous debris, saying the intervention had reduced boat accidents and damage to vessels and engines.
“On behalf of ATBOWATON, we sincerely thank the outgoing Lagos State Government for listening to us and taking steps to address these challenges. We appreciate these achievements and the positive difference they have made to our members and the water transportation sector,” he said.
Despite the interventions, he lamented that operators in remote communities still faced inadequate access to jetties and fuel stations, urging the incoming administration to extend infrastructure development to underserved areas.
He said financial assistance had become imperative, noting that several operators had lost their boats or were unable to continue operations due to faulty engines and the high cost of repairs.
Segun appealed to the government to introduce subsidies for boat engines and flexible repayment arrangements to help affected operators rebuild their businesses and restore their operational capacity.
He further urged sustained investment in waterway safety, security, youth employment and tourism, noting that a vibrant water transportation sector would create jobs, improve passenger safety and ease congestion on Lagos roads.
The association also declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid and the governorship ambition of Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat in Lagos State.
Segun said boat operators expected the incoming administration to consolidate the achievements of its predecessors while addressing outstanding challenges to accelerate the growth of water transportation and the blue economy.