By Chaos broke out on Monday morning at the Ikorodu Ferry Terminal, Lagos State, following a disagreement between Ikorodu Boat Operators Forum and officials of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA).
Blackbox Nigeria gathered that the clash was over the right of a licensed boat operator identified as Savvy Marine to carry out loading operations at the terminal without being registered member of ferry operators in the axis.
The Ikorodu Boat Operators Forum which serves as the gatekeeper for all operator entrants into the water transportation in Ikorodu claims that Savvy Marine has no right to load passengers because it is unregistered with the association, though it was licensed by LASWA to operate on the waterways.
It was learnt that true to their words, on Monday morning, members of the Forum showed up at the terminal to stop Savvy Marine from loading passengers. This encounter prompted the intervention of LASWA – the regulatory body – whose officials later arrived at the terminal.
A source in LASWA told BlackBox Nigeria that the situation got worsened as both parties; LASWA and the boat operators, failed to reach an agreement. This, according to the source, was due to the insistence of a member of the Ikorodu Boat Operators Forum that Savvy Marine mustn’t be allowed to operate.
This would later lead to a face-off as the LASWA representatives reportedly stalled the operations of all the operators, while passengers were stranded.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Ikorodu Boat Operators Forum, Barrister Grace has accused LASWA of taking sides on the matter, saying the agency is encouraging unregistered operators to ignore due process.
Explaining the Forum’s side of the story, she said LASWA came to “cause chaos” and disrupted the “peaceful operations” ongoing at the terminal, adding that LASWA officials arrived the scene with armed security officials.
She, however, said the Forum had reached out to the General Manager of LASWA to resolve the matter. The lawyer further stated that calm has been restored at the terminal, and operations returned.
