Dr. Ganiyu Tarzan Balogun, a foremost figure in Nigeria’s water transport sector, has called on the government to stop frustrating genuine investors in the tourism and maritime industries and instead provide them with meaningful support.
Balogun, the National President of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), stated this when a delegation from the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET) visited him in Lagos to present an award notification.
While commending the Federal Government’s broader efforts to develop and secure the nation’s waterways, Balogun criticized the obstructive actions of some civil servants.
“If the government wants to encourage operators, those already in the system should be supported, not frustrated to pave way for others,” he asserted.
“Some civil servants act based on personal interest, and that discourages genuine investors in tourism.”
He singled out Sarat Braimoh of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) for praise, citing her integrity, and lauded the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy for distributing 42,000 free life jackets to operators.
Reflecting on past initiatives, he lamented that a proposal for a dedicated fueling station for boat operators, which he presented to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was not sustained by subsequent administrations.
Reporting by Chioma Ezike