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With Okorie Uguru
The Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON) has embarked on sensitisation and awareness campaigns among its members and members of the public to canvas support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the election Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat for the offices Nigerian President and governor of Lagos State respectively. Both are candidates of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the early 2027 general elections in Nigeria.
The awareness campaign which was held at the Ijegun Egba Boat Jetty in Oriade Local Council Development Area of Lagos State attracted thousands of ATBOWATON members and residents of the area.
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While speaking on the awareness campaign to convince ATBOWATON members to support the re-election President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and election Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat for Lagos State, ABOWATON National President Dr. Tarzan Balogun said the body, with its strong membership base that cuts across the six geo-political zones, decided to support President Tinubu and for continuity in governance of Lagos State for the improvement in water transportation the current APC government at the Federal and Lagos State have brought to water transportation.
He said: “ With our strong membership base in not less than 35 zones in Lagos State now, from Epe to Badagry, from Badagry to Port Novo, our boats also operate from Lagos to Ondo State, it has become important that our voices are heard. We are here today to support the government-present one and incoming one. We are here to support the president because we appreciate what he has done for us. We have been provided with thousands of life jackets by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Blue Economy, through National Inland Waterways (NIWA), and at the state level through LASWA, the Lagos State Waterways Authority. Whenever we cry to them that these are the problems we are having on the waterways, LASWA always gets up. They go around; they have their patrol boat which you can see. Also NIWA, they do the same thing. If the federal government, state government is doing this, and our local government chairman of this zone is here with us, what else do you want?” Balogun called on his members to make sure they campaign and vote massively for President Tinubu and elect Dr. Hamzat as the new governor of Lagos.
Balogun also used the opportunity to appeal to his members to prioritise safety while carrying passengers as this would help sustain their business. He said: “So, I am appealing to all the boat operators, please, always be safety conscious. Number one, before you move your boat on the waterways be safety conscious. If we lose one passenger on the water, 100 will run away. Some people behave as if they don’t even have their blood in their heart, they don’t touch water. Some people if they are inside the boat, they close their eyes until the boat gets to the other side. We want them to open their eyes. We want them to feel comfortable. The more they are comfortable, the more they will come to patronize us. But the more they are afraid, the more they will run away.
