Improving Lagos waterways as integral part of transportation system

All over the world, movement of people and freight by water remains part and parcel of an integrated mode of transportation, especially in most mega cities like Lagos.

For many years, water transportation has remained epileptic, if not elusive. And to a great extent, many Lagosians that would have moved by waterways have been forced to subject themselves to the troubles and frustrations that come with movement by road.

Today, it is no longer news that many roads in the Lagos metropolis have been overtaken by decrepit and rickety articulated vehicles such as tankers and others carrying containers.

Apart from being an integral part of city living, waterways transportation sector remains critical to solving the traffic congestion affecting Lagos state and its environs.

Only recently, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State pledged the commitment of his administration to providing critical infrastructure and enabling environment for investors to participate in the ongoing efforts to scale up water transportation. This is a commendable move that must also be pursued with all the seriousness it requires.

Although the sector had been left unattended to over the years, the Lagos state government should totally renew its determination to fully harness the potential of water transportation to the benefit of the people and economic prosperity of the state.

The chaotic traffic situation in some parts of the state in recent time and the pressure on the road with its attendant danger to lives and property, should, as a matter or priority, provide the springboard to forge ahead with reforms in water transportation.

In many fora where discussion on matters bordering on water transportation are brought to the front burner,  many questions have been asked as to what has brought the situation to this sorry state situation, more especially when the only mode of transportation for the over 22 million people is road which is even growing more chaotic by the day.

“In the last three years, the Lagos state government have been saddled with the responsibility of fighting traffic and the most recent and on-going ugly situation is that of the gridlock in Apapa, centre Nigeria’s and one of Africa’s biggest seaports.

Among the estimated over 22 million people living in Lagos, almost 8 million are walking on the streets every second and at the same time; 86 people enter into Lagos every one hour according to United Nations statistics for 2016 which is the largest in the world.

What this means is that, when others see their states as no longer able to meet their needs, there is every tendency that  increasing number of people are going to be coming to Lagos to look for alternative means of livelihood.

Every minute, there are people entering Lagos not wanting to go back and the only mode of transportation for them is just the road and that is why it is expedient and very necessary for the state government to come up with other modes.

While the inherent benefits of water transportation, especially to traffic management, it is instructive to note that being surrounded by water, many parts of the state could be connected within few minutes when the required attention is being focused on the water sector.

It is delightful to note that the state government is constructing major channelisation projects, shoreline protection and jetties, among others as part of efforts to boost the sector.

It is also instructive to note that the recent Lagos state roundtable was basically to come up with sustainable framework to boost water transportation and encourage people to adopt it as alternative to other modes of transportation.

The essence of the roundtable was to evolve effective framework in partnership with the private sector and relevant stakeholders to play up water transportation in the state.

While wooing investors to take advantage of the reforms in the water sector, the state governor had maintained it was instructive that in the last 36 months, more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) came into the state largely due to transparency and credibility to encourage investors.

Beyond these good moves, the enabling environment for businesses to thrive should be continually created and assured by the administration.

Above all, responsible corporate citizens and institutions must be ready to partner with the state government to boost water transportation. It is only when all hands are deck that the desired result will be achieved.