The National President of ATBOWATON, and an operator in the state, Alhaji Ganiyu Balogun, gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He spoke on the sidelines of the association’s public declaration of support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election and adoption of Hamzat as its preferred APC governorship candidate for the 2027 election on Saturday.
NAN reports that under the initiative,unveiled on Friday, Hamzat promised to dredge 140 kilometres of waterways, optimise 15 ferry routes, refurbish 25 of the state’s 47 terminals and jetties, and procure 75 additional electric vessels.
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Through the Omi Eko initiative, Hamzat said his administration would improve water transportation and integrate ferry services with road and rail networks.
He added that the ultimate objective was to reduce commuting time and give residents more time for their families, businesses and personal activities.
Reacting,Balogun said the proposals contained in the manifesto, titled The Lagos Promise, particularly the Omi Eko initiative, demonstrated attention to the development of water transportation.
He said the proposals also addressed the safety of operators and passengers.
Balogun said the planned expansion and development of waterways would improve navigation and enhance safety for boat operators and passengers.
“We are the people operating on the waterways, so we understand the importance of these proposals.
“If the waterways are properly dredged and developed, boats will be able to operate more safely.
“As I said earlier, even if one person loses his life in a waterway accident, it discourages many others from using water transportation.
“Therefore, the proposed development shows that the government is concerned about safety,” he said.
He described the proposed introduction of additional electric vessels as a welcome development, but stressed the need for adequate charging infrastructure to ensure their effective utilisation.
“The introduction of electric boats is also a good development.
“However, before bringing in the boats, the government must provide adequate charging points.
“Charging infrastructure is very important to ensure that operators can use the vessels effectively without difficulties.
“This is where the association comes in, to let the government know what we need.
“It is important to provide the necessary facilities alongside the vessels so that operators will not encounter difficulties in using them,” he said.
Balogun, however, urged Hamzat to ensure that competent people with relevant knowledge and practical experience were appointed to manage critical sectors.
He said such expertise was particularly important in sectors requiring specialised knowledge.
“My advice to the incoming governor is to consider merit and competence when making appointments, rather than personal relationships.
“If you appoint people who understand the challenges of a particular sector, they will find it easier to implement government policies and programmes.
“Those who wear the shoes know where they pinch,” he said.
He illustrated the importance of professional appointments by warning against assigning responsibilities to people without the requisite knowledge simply because of personal relationships.
“If you put me as a commissioner for health, for instance, when I have no knowledge of the sector, I may not perform effectively.
“Similarly, appointing someone to manage a sector simply because of friendship rather than competence may affect service delivery,” he said.
The ATBOWATON president said that although government proposals might be well conceived, effective implementation remained critical to achieving the desired results.
“I agree with what Dr Hamzat has proposed, and I commend the government for its plans.
Balogun also said that the association’s support for the APC was informed by what he described as government interventions in the water transportation sector.
He identified safety, infrastructure and recognition of boat operators as areas where the government had intervened.
The boat operator recalled that before the interventions, accidents on the waterways were frequently reported, resulting in loss of lives.
He said improved monitoring and security measures had helped operators identify and track boats across different operational zones. (NAN)
