LASG seeks partnership with navy

Governor Babatunde Fashola

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has called for a working partnership between the state and Nigeria Navy to effectively utilise the Lagos waterways.

Fashola added that although the state was making giant strides in the development of its waterways, a working partnership with the navy would bring Lagos waterways to its full potential.

The governor said this during the visit of the new Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Jibrin Usman, to his office at Lagos House, Ikeja.

Fashola said, “We are gradually developing our water transportation in Lagos.  Unfortunately, there is no connection between us and you. And if anyone would be knowledgeable on that matter, it must be the navy.

“From my experience on water transportation, I have discovered that it is easier to build roads than construct safe water navigational area.  We are talking of dredging, maintenance and so on. But these are areas where Lagos and the Nigeria Navy could have improved partnership.

“I had to go to Dubai to learn how to pilot my boat, but many people owns boat in Lagos. There are schools that I believe you can set up in many of your commands and bases that can train people in all these areas. Why should we go abroad to learn how to pilot a boat when we have navy here in Nigeria. We have seen military formations now trying to raise fund to support itself whereas there are other things you can do legitimately to support your formation.”

The governor also warned some military officials who engage in land grabbing in the state to desist from the habit, adding that such was not the due process.

“The land that they did not buy from us, lands that are not allocated to them, they put their officers there, threatening everybody. That is not the way to go about acquiring land in Lagos State. If anyone wants land, they have to apply for it; they have to pay for it,” Fashola said.

Usman  later told journalists that the main mandate given to him upon his appointment was to fight oil theft and check the illegalities that are going on in the country’s maritime sector.

Usman said, “I think we have the wherewithal to do the job. I think we have the right platforms – ships, boats and the maritime helicopters.

“Fighting oil theft is a mandate giving to me in particular. Apart from oil theft and illicit bunkering, we are equally looking at illegal fishing, poaching, piracy, sea robbery and the likes.