Lagos ATBOWATON chapter plans reform; seeks to reach out to aggrieved members.
... group to adopt 'one zone, one project' strategy
Segun Oladipupo
The Lagos State chapter of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters( ATBOWATON) has vowed to empower some of its members adversely affected by the impacts removal of fuel subsidy.
The group which stated in a release that it intended to adopt “One Zone, One Project” strategy, agreed to evaluate its operational impact, reach out to aggrieved members and enthrone reconciliations, factor new developmental strides and also tackle cases of proven double taxation of its members.
Chairman, Lagos ATBOWATON, Engineer Babatunde Lawal, stated that the association pioneered and made huge sacrifices for the promotion and growth of water transportation in the state and Nigeria at large.
He added that it was unfortunate that the group has not benefited from its struggles for effective and secured movement of goods and persons across littoral communities in the state.
Engr Lawal urged the members to be consistent and resist external forces bent on dividing the frontline water transportation body, noting that the doors of the association in Lagos is open to everyone who is willing to operate by the extant regulations by federal and state authorities, and the constitution of ATBOWATON.
“We were once at the forefront of ensuring sanity on regulations ecosystem and went to court to prove our case. We recently obtained judgment against certain maritime organisation which does not own or operate boats yet wish to compel registered boat operators to pay levies to them. We must appreciate our members who stood with us at the risk of their lives through the court matter,” Lawal explained.
Speaking on the proposed effort to set up another union of boat operators in Lagos and to which the members outrightly rejected, the Lagos ATBOWATON boss promised to write letters to the relevant bodies pushing the for new action to know about the latest position of the association on the matter.
On palliatives for its members, the association disclosed that nothing practical in terms of delivery has reached the members, adding that the new fuel regime is making the business of its members and its clients very difficult.
The association further stated that palliatives with any unexplainable and confounding conditions would be outrightly rejected by the members, even as he stated that any effort to give it anything by right hand and take it back through the left hand, will be politely turned down.
The Lagos chapter of ATBOWATON noted that it will resist attempts to polarise its members, calling on all stakeholders to collaborate and unite to provide a secured water transportation ecosystem, and welcomed the creation of Marine and Blue economy Ministry, which saw to unbundling of the once octopus Ministry of Transportation.
