LAGOS- A shipping expert, Mr Ayorinde Adedoyin, has urged the Federal Government to provide adequate infrastructure to boost inland water transport in the country.
Adedoyin, the Managing Director of Peacegate Group, a shipping and maritime support services company, made the call in an interview with the newsmen in Lagos.
He said that the water transport business needed to be guided by the best practices in the industry.
“First of all, the channel needs to be cleared; waters needs to be dredged.
“The right jetties need to be built and building this means that you need to make it accessible and people will have to be able to come in, find somewhere to sit, even in some cases, park and ride.
“You drive from your house to the place, park it, get on the boat; come back in the evening; you shorten your journey time; that is key.
“Also, they need to look at the search and rescue issue; it’s quite important.
“Even if there is an accident, there is quick response to saving lives; that is also very important.
“And the health and safety (measures) should be put in place that people know what they need to do in case of an accident.“
Adedoyin said that the water transport business would always be a venture with huge potentials in Lagos especially in view of the large population in the state.
He said that inland water transport was capable of massively reducing the time people spent in traffic jams.