Boat operators urge LASG to build jetties in Epe

The Association of Tourists Boat Operators and Water Transportation of Nigeria (ATBOWATON) has appealed to  the Lagos State Government to build modern Jetties in Epe, to boost water transportation.

The association’s chairman, Epe Chapter, Mr Ayodele Lawal, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Epe that its members faced numerous challenges on the waterways.

According to him, insufficient jetties had impeded water transportation in the ancient community.

“A jetty is a point where boat operators assemble to convey passengers to their various destinations; it is also an arrival and departure point “Some people in Epe prefer to use water transportation, as alternative to road transport because of the traffic challenges on the Ajah/Lekki axis.

“But, the challenge that boat operators are facing in Epe is the issue of jetty. We do not have modern jetties that we can operate from, ” Lawal said.

He added that the only functional jetty was the one situated at Epe fish market, mainly for fishermen.

He noted that the other jetty built along the marina waterfront by Erepoto area of the community is moribund and abandoned.

He said  places like the Marina waterfront in Epe, near the police post, needed a functional and standard jetty.

“The moribund jetty at Erepoto community needs to be revived, Ejirin market by waterfront needs a functional jetty, these are locations where the jetties should be sited.

“The police post situated at the waterfront needs a standard jetty, the marine police officers cannot operate effectively without a functional jetty.

“The marine police officers do not have a jetty where they can sail from, I don’t know how they have been managing/operating over the years. If the state can build a standard jetty for the marine police officers in Epe, It will help to combat criminalities on the waterways”

According to him, building of jetties will also help in conveying passengers on the waterways and relieve them from the  gridlock they face on the road.

“Epe people need the services of boat operators but lack of jetties in the environment has denied them such services,,” he said.

Lawal urged the government to partner with private boat operators, to establish jetties across Epe Division by adopting investor-friendly policies.

“Building of jetties in Epe will create employment opportunities for the youth, provide alternative means of transportation and also boost the local government Internally Generated Revenue.

(NAN)