The Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON) has commended the federal government for its efforts to develop the Nigerian water waterways and make them safer, and for supporting the tourism industry, while also calling for greater government support to develop these sectors.
The call was made by Ganiyu Tarzan Balogun, national president of the association, who is also managing director/CEO, Tarzan Marine Enterprises, when a delegation of the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET) paid him a courtesy visit to present to him an ANJET award notification letter. ANJET plans to honour him for years of dedicated service to the Nigerian tourism industry.
Speaking on nomination for the award, the ATBOWATON president explained that he accepted the award coming from ANJET because of members of the association’s vast knowledge of the industry and those that have contributed in shaping it.
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Balogun, a prominent figure in the maritime and tourism industries, thanked ANJET for believing in him, honouring and supporting him in the industry. He stated that if the government wants to encourage the operators in the business, those on ground should be encouraged and supported as well as whomever that is showing interest in the business as well.
He advised the government against killing the operators already in existence in the industry so that they can pave ways for their friends, or their brothers to come in.
According to him, “Some of the civil servants don’t like the truth because it doesn’t favor them. Most of the things they do is because of what they can get as a personal interest. So for that reason, it’s depreciating, revising and bringing tourism back a bit because those who are doing the tourism business are not encouraged”.
Balogun mentioned people like Sarat Braimoh of the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, who always wants to do things the way they should be done, regardless of who is concerned.
He commended the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy for providing 42000 free life jackets for boat operators.
He said: “You cannot enter Tarzan boats without a life jacket. What is the excuse for that now? The government has given us life jackets. Beside the one I bought; I just sent a supply of 150 life jackets about three months ago before the federal government came.
“In addition to this, over the years, my association, ATBOWATON, was the first that started enforcement of life jackets for all the passengers on our members’ boats. That was at Mekwen jetty by Bonny Camp, Victoria Island, Lagos.”
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He called on all boat operators in the country to support the government by doing the right things on the waterways (making sure passengers wear life jackets).
Balogun narrated how he advocated for the establishment of a filling station on the waterways for boat operators during a meeting with President Obasanjo in Aso Rock.
Balogun narrated further that: “They didn’t give us a fuel station here. But at least, they gave it to some other places.
“What I am trying to say is that, after he left there, the successive government was supposed to continue from where he stopped. Now go to those places, there’s no fuel there.
At a personal level, as part of my company’s corporate social responsibility, I used to ferry students in Lagos from Tarkwa Bay to Lagos and back free when I was living there. When I moved to Lagos, I was doing the same at Eleke Crescent Victoria Island until I moved to Maroko, opposite Oniru Estate. I am now in Badore, I still ferry students in uniform, police, navy and army personnel in uniform free, up till today”.
Presenting the nomination letter, Okorie Uguru, ANJET president, applauded Balogun for his continuous support for the promotion of safety and growth of water transportation in Nigeria.
He said that Balogun was meritoriously chosen for the award based on his pedigree in promoting the growth of water transportation and tourism in the country.
Speaking also, Frank Meke, a renowned travel and tourism journalist, thanked Tarzan Balogun for his contribution to the growth of water transportation and tourism in the country.
Read also: NIWA pledges to enhance safety on waterways
Meke noted that Balogun has the institutional memory of transformation of the water transportation business in the country.
“When we talk about people like this, they should at least listen and learn from his experience, because he has the memory of it all. Tarzan is an enigma. He’s an institution”, Meke said.
He said Tarzan Balogun has touched lives in the industry which is why God is keeping him alive
He stated that the history of water transportation in Nigeria cannot be complete without the mention of Tarzan Balogun.
He thanked ANJET for recognizing and honouring Tarzan Balogun, adding that he is proud to be associated with him.
