The Managing Director, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, has said that the establishment of Ibile Oil & Gas Station at the authority’s headquarters would enhance the safety culture on Waterways.
Emmanuel made the disclosure during the launching of Ibile Oil and Gas, Waterways Petrol Dump at the authority’s headquarters in Lagos on Tuesday
He said that the launching of the Ibile Oil and Gas station would eradicate the habit of using kegs to get fuel into ferries.
According to him, the establishment of the fuel station will entrench the safety culture on Waterways.
“Before now, operators usually carry kegs as a way of getting petrol and diesel on our Waterways but with the establishment of Ibile oil and Gas Station, this will eradicate proliferation and the use of kegs to transport fuel in the boats.
“The launching of Ibile Oil will instill safety culture and reduce water transport accidents while carrying petrol onboard their boats.
“Collaboration is very key, especially when we see the economy suffering from lack of resources, and if we are able to pull resources together, we will achieve much more,” Emmanuel said.
He said that such an establishment would be expanded to Ikorodu, Ojo, and other ferry stations in Lagos to ensure the improvement of fuel infrastructure.
Dami Ajayi, Head Downstream, Ibile Oil & Gas, said his company established the fuel station to support the waterways transportation Agenda of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in ensuring ferry were easily fuel in the state.
“Our mission is to ensure that ferry is fuel safely, efficiently, have the right qualities, and have value for their money.
“Our collaboration with LASWA is to ensure the ferry operators promote the Ibile Oil and Gas among them.
“We intend to enhance safety for boat owners as well as passengers and they should have at the back of their minds that there is no carriage of jerrican while moving on waters.
Mr. Tarzan Balogun, the National President of Association of Tourists Boat Operators and Water Transport of Nigeria (ATBOWTN), commended the management of LASWA for collaborating with Ibile Oil & Gas to reduce the stress of getting fuel while onboard.
Balogun said that it had been a tug of war for their members in getting fuel, especially during fuel scarcity.
“We want to thank the Governor of Lagos State, Management of LASWA as well as Ibile Oil & Gas for this laudable initiative.
” We are begging the Ibile oil firm to always have fuel to enable us to reduce the time of doing business and improve our efficiency.
“We are also appealing to the Ibile management to please make available in advance two-stroke oil, which help in mixing fuel we put in the ferry,” Balogun said.
Another ferry operator, President, Integrated Ferry Operators (IFO), Pastor Jide Daniel, said he would distribute the handbills to his members and compelled them to be patronizing Ibile Oil and Gas to enhance their operation.
He urged the Management of LASWA to always ensure the availability of fuel at the station in spite of fuel scarcity.
Daniel said that the launching would curb fire hazards being encountered while trying to get fuel with jerrican into the ferry.
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