Boat operators lament high fuel costs, poor jetty facilities

The Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), Lagos State Chapter, has called on the incoming Lagos administration to provide more jetties, fuel stations and financial support for boat operators to sustain the growth of water transportation across the state.

The association also urged the government to introduce subsidies for boat engines and flexible repayment arrangements to help operators whose businesses have been affected by faulty engines, damaged boats and other operational challenges.

The call was made at a political awareness programme organised by ATBOWATON in collaboration with its national leadership, where boat operators and other stakeholders discussed the future of water transportation in Lagos State and expressed their expectations of the incoming administration.

The political awareness programme provided a platform for ATBOWATON members to engage government representatives and political stakeholders on policies affecting their businesses, while outlining their expectations for the continued development of water transportation and the blue economy in Lagos State.

In his keynote address, the Lagos State Governor’s Special Adviser on Blue Economy, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, represented by Mr Oladayo Ibrahim, said the state remained committed to positioning Lagos as a leading hub for maritime development and water transportation.

He identified the Omi Eko Project as one of the initiatives through which the state government was transforming water transportation through modern ferry infrastructure, electric vessels, improved terminals, waterway dredging and digital transportation systems.

Emmanuel, however, emphasised the need to ensure that existing boat operators were not excluded from the emerging opportunities in the sector.

He encouraged operators to embrace professionalism, prioritise safety, comply with regulatory standards and remain open to innovation and modern operating practices.

He also urged members of the association to remain politically informed and participate actively in democratic processes, noting that government policies directly affected 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. Similarly, the Founding National Chairman of ATBOWATON, Dr Tarzan Balogun, called for greater attention to passenger safety, warning that accidents on the waterways could discourage patronage and undermine commuters’ confidence in water transportation. He maintained that safety must remain the industry’s foremost priority, urging operators to ensure passengers feel comfortable and secure throughout their journeys. Balogun also commended the interventions of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), particularly their monitoring activities and provision of safety equipment, including life jackets.

He called for sustained collaboration between federal, state and local governments to address challenges confronting water transportation.

Also speaking, Chairman of Oriade Local Council Development Area, Rasaq Olotede, applauded successive Lagos State administrations for investments in water transportation infrastructure, particularly the development of jetties and terminals across the Badagry Division.

He listed terminals at Ilashe, Ibeshe and Kirikiri Town among the facilities provided to support water transportation in the corridor.

Olotede also commended boat operators for complying with safety regulations, particularly the use of life jackets, while acknowledging the roles of LASWA and the Marine Police in monitoring activities on the waterways.

Deputy Chairman of ATBOWATON, Lagos State Chapter, Babatunde Segun, acknowledged the contributions of the outgoing Lagos State Government to the development of water transportation, expressing hope that the incoming administration would consolidate existing achievements and extend infrastructure to underserved communities.

He recalled that boat operators previously struggled with inadequate jetties, forcing them to travel long distances to access suitable operating locations.

According to him, the government responded to their concerns by providing additional jetties and supporting the establishment of more fuel stations around waterways, making fuel procurement easier for operators.

He also commended the state and federal governments for their collaborative efforts in clearing dangerous debris from waterways, noting that the development had helped reduce boat accidents and damage to boats 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.

However, Segun stressed that more interventions were needed, particularly in remote communities where access to jetties and fuel stations remained limited.

He identified financial support for boat operators as another critical area requiring government attention, explaining that some operators had lost their boats or were struggling with faulty engines, thereby affecting their livelihoods and operational capacity.

He appealed for subsidies on boat engines and flexible repayment arrangements to enable affected operators to rebuild their businesses and return to optimal operations.

The ATBOWATON deputy chairman further called for sustained attention to waterway safety, security, youth employment and tourism development, adding that investment in these areas would create jobs, improve passenger safety and reduce pressure on Lagos roads.

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