Nigeria’s maritime tourism sector, which ranks among the underperformers in Africa, will suffer more resentment as a result of the recent boat accidents claiming lives in Niger and Lagos states.
The Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN) made this assertion on Wednesday as it kicked off an awareness campaign with boat operators and associations in the littoral states to revamp and deepen marine tourism for business and pleasure.
FTAN President, Nkereweum Onung, who addressed the heads of boat operators’ associations in Lagos, including the Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association of Nigeria (WABOTAN), Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transportation of Nigeria (ATBOWATAN) and Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), stressed that safety in the marine environment should be top priority for the government and operators in a bid to grow marine tourism.
Onung particularly expressed concern at the recent rising cases of boat accidents as red flag to boosting waterways transportation and by extension, marine tourism development.
He, however, urged the boat operators to abide by safety rules and also encouraged the relevant regulatory agencies to enforce the rules and punish deviance in order to ensure that standards are maintained.
“Our vision is to grow all aspects of tourism in Nigeria including maritime tourism. We decided to commence this sensitization tour from Lagos because this state plays a unique role in maritime,” the FTAN President said.
According to him, if the marine tourism sector is standardised it will be safe for foreigners and for Nigerians thereby ensuring that tourism thrives.
Commending the synergy between the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Lagos State Water Authority (LASWA) on safety enforcement as capable of restoring the glorious days of tourism, Onung further commiserated with those who lost persons, equipment or business in the recent accidents in Niger and Lagos states.
He recalled his recent two and half-hour boat ride from Lagos to Porto Novo, Benin Republic, noting that adequate mapping of the channel with the green and red safety signs was necessary to avoid similar sad occurrence like the recent ones.
He further noted that though foreign trips were becoming unsustainable for an average Nigerian family in view of the depreciating naira, it has become expedient to promote local tourism, including maritime tourism activities, for both local and international tourists.
On his part, ATBOWANTAN President, Ganiu Balogun, called for more government investment in water transportation infrastructure, navigational aids and funding for marine police, while urging boat operators to enforce safety rules on water, including closure time, as there is yet no navigational equipment for night operation.
Meanwhile, the WABOTAN President, Babatope Fajemirokun, disclosed that the operators were working to improve water transportation in Nigeria, especially along the West Coast, adding that trips from Lagos to Porto-Novo have dropped from 144 in 2023 to the 64 so far this year.
The President of NATOP, Mrs. Bolaji Mustapha, also shared insights on the strategic role of tourism in the nation’s economy as well as the significance of safety and global best practices.
