Boat operators seek government support to improve aquatic tourism

By Ebere Chibuzor

Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria has called on Lagos State Government to create enabling environment for practitioners in aquatic tourism.

President of the association, Mr Gani Tarzan Balogun, who is also the Managing Director, Tarzan Marine Enterprises Nigeria Limited, stated this during a recently organised boat cruise for female journalists in tourism.

He described policy inconsistency as a major challenge confronting ATBOWATON in its effort to achieve development in aquatic tourism business.

He said there were limited fuel stations in the water coastlines, adding that such development was taking a heavy toll on aquatic tourism.

He noted that opening new creeks would generate more revenue for the state.

For example, from Lagos Island, he said boat could take one to Isolo on the mainland.

“There is a channel at Okafa; taking a boat from Ibese to that place won’t take more than 40 minutes. But by road, it could take over three hours to reach the place. There is a creek at Isolo; government needs to tap into it.

“Again, when an operator buys a boat, payment and registration and other taxes have to be made to the government accounts. And so government will make money from it. And that would equally help to decongest the road.”

Even as Balogun acknowledged that the Lagos State Government had built two commercial fuel stations for boats; one at Ikorodu and the other in  Falomo, he stressed that they were not enough for existing many boats operating in the state.

“Boat fuel stations need to be built in some strategic locations, especially at their take-off points,” he stated.

He also complained about lack of dredging and provision of security among others as part of challenges inhibiting growth of aquatic business.

Balogun recalled that the late Lateef Jakande, as the first civilian governor of Lagos State, had opened waterways terminals.

“We are not making enough use of the waterways. Jakande had laid the waterways foundation that we are enjoying now and that is the reason behind ATBOWATON’s call to immortalise him and name one terminal after him,” Balogun said.

He also recalled, “Everyday of my life at the waterfront, I remember 10 years or 15 years ago one would see a Tarzan boat and maybe with two other boats plying Ikorodu to Lagos. And today, the story has changed; one could see more than 50 boats going back and forth.”

He appealed to the government to support the upcoming firms in the waterways business.