Business
Ikorodu Boat Mishap: Private Operators Complain Of Low Patronage
Private ferry operators at
the Majidun Jetty in Ikorodu, Lagos State, have resumed operations five days after a boat mishap which left at least nine people dead.
The operators had on April 2 suspended their services following the mishap.
Divers had removed the wreckage of the boat belonging to Bell Marines Company which capsized on the Lagos Lagoon.
The Tide source who visited the jetty last Wednesday, reports that about 30 boats were securely anchored in the last five days with 18 resuming operations.
Several vehicles belonging to passengers, who had boarded the boats to Victoria Island and other destinations, were also seen at the various car parks at Majidun.
It was however, gathered from the operators that patronage had also dropped considerably following the mishap.
“For now, there is about 45 per cent patronage. We are still hoping that our regular passengers will come back.
“For example, before now, we used to ferry about 300 passengers daily, but now it has reduced to between 80 and 90 passengers,” Operations Manager, Donimo Logistics, Mrs Blessing Ikediashi, told newsmen.
Ikediashi said the company had put the necessary measures in place to guarantee passengers’ safety.
She added:“Experience, they say, is the best teacher. We have told our boat captains to reduce their speed in order to avert accident; we have told them to slow down.
“We are going to intensify regular drilling for our captains. In fact, all our captains are skilled in repairing boat propellers if and when they breakdown.”
She advised passengers to always wear the life jackets given them by boat operators, adding that some passengers were in the habit of not using the life jackets.
“Some will wear it at the jetty only to remove it mid-sea, complaining of heat.’’
Also at Metro Ferry in Ikorodu, safety instructions for passengers were on display on the notice boards.
It read in part: “Please ensure that your life jackets are fastened. In case of emergency or mishap such as accidents or any form of attack, please remain calm and listen to follow-up instructions from the captains.
“In case of boat collision leading to loss of control by the captain and eventual capsize, do not panic, open your eyes and be at alert.
“Locate the closest exit from your sitting position. There are exits at the back and front of the boat. Where you are not close enough, make use of the windows by sliding the glass apart.
“In the event of any of the cases mentioned above, you can call any of these numbers: 08093940112, 08093940289, and 08093940110.”
Mr Sakari Dekina, the Operations Manager, Metro Ferry, also advised passengers to be more vigilant while boarding a boat.
“Ensure you know the capacity of the boat before boarding, and ask about the boat’s engine capacity.
“For instance, a 200-horsepower engine is an idle engine for a 20-passenger boat.
“If you notice any water in the boat, ask questions because it can be a leakage. If it is a leakage, then the boat is not good to go on that trip,” he said.
“Payment of tuition fees for undergraduate/postgraduate studies shall be subject to a maximum limit of $25,000.00 per semester,” the Manual states.
The expansion of international card limits also reflects growing confidence among lenders that foreign exchange liquidity has improved enough to support retail dollar transactions.
Speaking recently at the BusinessDay 14th Annual CEO Forum in Lagos, CBN Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the CBN said buying and selling activities now increasingly determine outcomes in the foreign exchange market, unlike in the past when market participants relied heavily on routine Central Bank interventions.
According to Cardoso, Nigeria’s net foreign exchange reserves have risen from just over $3 billion at the start of the reform programme to more than $40 billion, while gross reserves have climbed to about $52 billion, providing stronger confidence for investors and enabling the Central Bank to reserve interventions for periods of market stress rather than day-to-day liquidity management.
The restoration and expansion of international naira card spending limits are increasingly being seen as one of the clearest signs that the benefits of the CBN’s foreign exchange reforms are beginning to reach households, students and businesses making legitimate cross-border payments.
The Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, WEC, Dr Angela Wilkinson, disclosed this in a statement, last Thursday.
“Nigeria’s participation comes at a pivotal time as the country seeks to expand energy access, strengthen energy security, accelerate gas development and mobilise the capital required for industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.
“WEC Nigeria will convene leaders from across the energy ecosystem, apply the WEC’s globally recognised Energy Trilemma framework to Nigeria’s unique context, and promote evidence-based dialogue, practical collaboration and informed policymaking.
“It will also ensure that Nigerian and broader African perspectives contribute meaningfully to global energy conversations,” she said.
Wilkinson expressed confidence that Nigeria would play a significant leadership role at the World Energy Congress scheduled for Riyadh in April 2027 and beyond.
The statement also quoted the Chairman of WEC Nigeria, Isa, as describing the country’s participation as an opportunity to deepen national and African leadership within the global energy community through practical solutions tailored to regional development priorities.
He said the platform would promote collaboration across sectors and attract sustainable investments into Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of WEC Nigeria, Wunti, was quoted in the statement as saying that the council would connect leadership, evidence and investment to build a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system.
“This system will be capable of driving economic growth and shared prosperity.”
According to him, the platform will also connect Nigerian institutions and businesses with international knowledge, technology, partnerships and investment opportunities through the World Energy Council’s global network.
Recall that WEC, founded in 1923, is the world’s oldest independent and impartial community of energy leaders and practitioners, advancing informed, collaborative and practical action across the global energy system.