Press Releases

Lagos Ready To Assist Committee On Clearance Of Abandoned Vessels - Fashola

Feb 10, 2010 - The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Wednesday pledged the readiness of the State Government to assist the members of the inter-ministerial committee on clearing of abandoned vessels and wreckages from Nigerian Waterways in achieving its goals.

According to Governor Fashola who spoke at Lagos House, Marina while receiving members of the inter-ministerial committee on clearing of abandoned vessels and wreckages from the waterways, the success of the committee has huge importance to the water transportation policy of Lagos State.

He explained that the task before the committee has a huge impact in complementing the state’s efforts at environmental sustainability and in making Lagos and Nigeria an attractive destination point for maritime and other international business.

Governor Fashola expressed hope that the work of the Committee will have a lasting effect in terms of its ability to grow to some other sectors and improve the life of the people in Lagos.

The Lagos State helmsman added that many entrepreneurs and undecided businessmen will take positions once they see the genuine intentions to clean up the waterways.

Governor Fashola explained that the high number of wrecked and sunk vessels in the Lagos waterways as compared to other parts of the country is understandable because it has the busiest port in the country.

He advised that the committee should start with vessels that are in some levels of unserviceability and can be seen on the waterways before it moves to very difficult ones.

Said he: “The impact of what happens in Lagos to the national economy is understandable. We are thankful that there is appropriateness of appreciation that the problem is more profound in Lagos and that the work of the committee will start here”.

“Any success that you record here would be easily transferable to other coastal parts of the States and the country in general”, Governor Fashola added.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee, Rtd Rear Admiral Abiodun Olukoya said the committee is in Lagos as part of its brief to make the waterways free not only in Lagos but all areas like Port Harcourt, Warri and Calabar where the water ways are operating.

He explained that the idea is to ensure that the waterways are made clean, navigable and to be able to compete with what is happening globally.

Rear Admiral Olukoya said part of the task of the committee is to ensure that Nigeria which is presently in category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) ranking achieves his aspiration to be in category B which will take at least two years to actualise.

Present with the Governor at the courtesy call were some members of the State Executive Council including Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Prince Abiodun Oniru and members of the inter-ministerial committee.