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The President of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria, Tarzan Balogun, who is also the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of Tarzan Marine Enterprises, speaks to LILIAN UKAGWU on issues of climate change, water transportation and boat accidents
How would you assess water transportation in Nigeria?
Let me just say the journey of one thousand miles starts with a step. We are in the right direction now, the federal, state and local governments are interested in the sector. They now know that using the waterways is better than the road. I wish more people were using the waterways now. Nevertheless, it is a lot better now and I can say that water transportation is striving.
What are some of the measures that have been taken recently to enhance safety on our waterways?
As I have said, the federal and state governments, as well as the ministry in charge of water transportation are doing their best but they need to do a lot more. For instance, navigation signs have been put on the water. I operate in Lagos, there is a parastatal under the Ministry of Transportation called National Inland and Waterways Authority. We also have the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, and the Nigeria Ports Authority; these agencies are doing their best but can still do more; you can’t do all at once; there is also an opportunity to improve in whatever you are doing. So, the state government and the federal government are trying their best for now but a lot has to be put in place. For instance, some wrecks have been removed from the waterways. These wrecks used to cause accidents in the waterways. They also bought boats that often patrol on the waterways in the event of an accident, there is also an ambulance on the water owned by NIWA which is under the Federal Government. So, I will say safety measures have been improved upon.
Also, my jetty was destroyed on Monday by a storm. We are working on it and this is gulping a lot of money. We have been sensitising our members to safety measures. We have been training them asking them to reduce the number of passengers on their boat. A boat that carries 20 passengers should now carry 15 so that the buoyancy will be more effective; their engines should also be serviced properly although we know they can develop a fault at any time. Nevertheless, they need to ensure the engines are running and are in perfect condition. There is a school called Metropolitan Marine School organised by NIWA to train people, the school has to certify intending operators before they are given a licence to operate on the waterways.
From Nimet’s Early Rainfall Prediction, there are indications that this year’s flooding will be worst than last year’s, how will the association manage this?
The association has been sensitising its members, giving them training across the country with the help of all our state chairmen. They are to ensure our boat operators obey the rules and regulations. So, we are getting ready for that, our boats that were parked here before are now parked elsewhere because of the storm. If the storm comes in, it won’t destroy the boat; although nobody is perfect. But the warning given to our members by NiMet has been passed on to every operator. About three months ago, there was heavy rain that affected the waterways. This was not caused by any human fault, it is nature that drops water and all we need to do is to get prepared for it like the Boys Scouts. We have been prepared for the warning. It was good information that was given to us in advance and nearly everyone is getting ready for that.
You organised a training programme for your members recently. What was it about?
It was about safety on the waterways and the need to be prepared for the weather predictions. Each state has its separate meetings. We emphasise the importance of wearing life jackets among other safety measures. However, some stubborn passengers will like tell you ‘’No!.’’ They will tell you that you do not own their life. We often respond by telling them that “we are not the owner of your life but the owner of the boat wants you to wear the life jacket, so you must obey.” They have the option of either obeying our own rules and regulations or staying off the boat.
How often do your members purchase new boats?
That depends on the owner of the jetty and the operator. For example, if he has three boats that carry about 1000 passengers. He may need another boat if he wants to be carrying about 1,200 persons.
What are some of the challenges you have encountered as a boat operator and president of a boat association?
Well, I have been in the business for a while, at least for over 30 years, almost four decades now. Most of the problems bother on government policies but many of them have been addressed now. However, you sometimes have a situation whereby one of the parastatals is going to the right direction while the other one is going to the left; you often find yourself in the middle in that kind of situation.
As an association, we often speak to the ministry and the parastatals urging them to speak with one voice and reach an agreement that will work for the industry. But many of these problems occurred in the past. Currently, the state and federal governments are working together and this is making things a lot easier but it can be better.
Can you list some of the challenges facing the sector?
The government needs to invest more in the sector so that Marine Police (the security personnel on the water) has what it takes to operate on the waterways. There is no point in knowing what is wrong and hiding it or refusing to say it because you don’t want to step on some toes. We have to appeal to those people whose toes we will step on to see things from a positive perspective. This will help to save the lives of the people. So, the government needs to provide the Marine Police with what they need, you know that civil servants don’t have a total say, a lot depends on what they present to their bosses, directors and permanent secretaries. Our association is using this medium to appeal to the government to make necessary provisions for the Marine Police. This is very important.
Where do you see water transportation in the next five years?
I believe it will grow a lot better than what it is today, once the waterways are organised properly a lot of people will use it. As I said, I live in Lagos and my business is in Lagos, there is so much vehicular traffic between Ajah and Victoria Island-it can take you about three to four hours sometimes. However, using a boat takes a maximum of one hour depending on the speed of the boat. Of course, there are no area boys or thieves that would disturb you on the waterways. Yes, there are sea pirates but the government has taken care of that; the government has been able to put the boat on the waterways and they patrol the waterways every time.
How did the naira-redesign policy affect boat operations?
It affected us heavily because the crisis came suddenly. If the government had taken it step by step the money issue wouldn’t have been so serious. It really affected us so much because we had to spend more money to buy certain inputs needed for effective operations. It was difficult to get fuel to run our boats. However, It is good the government is taking care of the issue now and I believe things will be better.
Operators have asked for a floating fuel station on the waterways, what is the update on this request?
When former President Olusegun Obasanjo was in power, stakeholders including the Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Tourism met him at Aso Rock and discussed the need for a floating station; not just a station on the waterways but a floating one in the middle of the water. I remember the President called the NNPC boss and directed that something should be done about it. I think they did something in Calabar, Rivers and Warri but Lagos was not lucky to have a floating station. However, we are still appealing that something should be done about it. If we had fuel on the waterways, it would make life easier for the boat operators. This relief will be transferred to the passenger as well. And if the three tiers of government are working in one voice, it will also make it easier for the boat operators to operate. For instance, if the government wants N1,000 as revenue from the boat operators, the local government and the state should not ask for N50 and N500, respectively. The three tiers of government should harmonise revenue collection from operators.
How many boat accidents were recorded in the country in 2022?
I will not be able to tell you the exact number of accidents, but the number of accidents in 2022 was less than that of 2021. As I said earlier, NIWA has been removing wrecks in the water. When the jetty runs into the wreck, it breaks the boat and the boat will capsise. So, many of the wrecks have been removed.
Also, state governments are putting signs on the waterways to indicate deep shallow areas, thereby advising operators on where to sail. Although we need more of measures, I believe Rome was not built in a day. So, all we need is to encourage the government and let the government also encourage the stakeholders.
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