Other operators down tools as Ambode grounds Tarzan boats

Thousands of commuters in Ikorodu, Epe and Victoria Island were stranded at the various jetties in Lagos on Monday and Tuesday as boat operators in sympathy with Tarzan Boats withdrew their services.

Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of Lagos state, had ordered the immediate eviction of Tarzan Boats from Ijede, Badore, Oke-Ira Nla and Ibeshe jetties.

Though partial services were noticed at popular CMS Jetty on Monday, operators from Ijede, Badore, Oke-Ira Nla, Ibesha and Ikorodu pulled their boats out of the waters in a protest strike.

Ganiyu Balogun, managing director of Tarzan Boats, is seeking stay of execution on the order issued by the governor.

The governor had earlier ordered the state waterways authority (LASWA) to repossess the disputed jetties from Tarzan Boats which claims to have a 25-year lease approval to run and manage the infrastructure.

In an eviction letter dated May 16, 2016 issued by Abisola Kamson, managing director of LASWA, the governor noted that the 25-year lease approval granted Tarzan Boat on the jetties “remains invalidated”.

According to Kamson, Ambode had ordered Tarzan Boats to immediately vacate the jetties and desist from any claims of ownership or concession to these structures.

Balogun is however reported to have approached the federal high court, Ikoyi for a stay of execution while seeking redress on the controversial lease.

Balogun, who is often referred to as the “boat man”, said his company has been harassed, victimised and intimidated over the past four years by the state government and its officials.

“The Lagos State government during Bola Ahmed Tinubu literally encouraged and begged me to help revive these places and give the rural people who travel over six hours by road to get to Victoria Island and the parts of the city a window of movement to civilization without stress,” he said.

“We applied and were given approval for an initial 10 years lease which we later sought a review to additional 15 years making all 25 years due to the huge financial outlay involved in upgrading of the structures.”

Babtunde Fashola, former governor of the state, had set up a task force to probe all approvals regarding the jetties, with the company allowed to operate, Ganiyu said.

“Honestly, I would not advise any investor either local or foreign to put their money and experience in any business in Lagos. With over 30 years’ experience on water transportation in Lagos, am troubled by these negative orders and directives against me and my company,” he said.

“If you know what it takes to reclaim marshy areas and turn around dead jetties around, you can then imagine what I have gone through here.”

Balogun said his lawyers are studying the situation, adding that he will duly relinquish the hold on the jetties if the governor will refund his company’s N5 billion investment over the past 10 years.