IKORODU DIVISION COUNCIL BOSSES HOST MARITIME CONTRACTORS, DISCUSS WATERWAY BUSINESS, SECURITY & REVENUE GENERATION ®™√ INN Nigeria ©

Poised to maximise prospects in the maritime sector for the wealth of residents and stakeholders in Ikorodu division, through investments in water transportation, delegates from Lagos Association Of Maritime Contractors/Petro Gas servicing Operators and Water Transporters converged at Ikorodu local government secretariat on the 20th of September 2022.

The meeting depicted a pact channel for partnership with government agencies and organisations to secure endurable shipping business in the region.

Executive Chairman Ikorodu Local Government, Hon. Wasiu Adesina, Bldr. Sesan Daini, Chairman Igbogbo Baiyeku LCDA, Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo Alogba, Chairman Ijede LCDA and Bldr. Adeola Adebisi Banjo, Chairman of Ikorodu North LCDA received the representatives.

In understanding the benefit of promoting collaboration for sustainable partnerships and projects in the Maritime industry, Ikorodu News Network (INN) spoke with both the council and the association’s BOT chairman post-meeting to verify progress made.

Group Marine Capt. Taiwo O. Mogbojuri, BOT Chairman of the association, underscored to INN, the need to enhance shipping business in the region.

Captain Taiwo proceeded, “Our body is the apex unified maritime association in Lagos state, and we’re here to usher in development in Ikorodu division maritime sector, we plan to unify the sector and also align with transport operators within Ikorodu”.

“In Ikorodu, we’ve 3 regions where maritime are thriving, which are Igbogbo Baiyeku, Ikorodu west and Ikorodu Central, though it is growing in Ijede LCDA, but not voluminous due to the road network system”.

Captain Taiwo stated that the need to increase the maritime industry’s contribution to Ikorodu’s Gross Domestic Products prompted the collective meeting with the council bosses.

He explained, “It is the first time we’re having a joint agreement meet, which will produce a safer Ikorodu, aligning with the Lagos state position on maritime, and believe me, if there is a safe environment, the investment will grow fast”.

“We aim to eradicate every form of complexness, so Ikorodu maritime sector doesn’t look like that of Apapa in Lagos, presenting flexible operations which the global maritime bodies use and also model sophisticated standard of regulations to compliments the federal government policies”.

Captain Taiwo, who thanked the council bosses for their listening ears, urged residents in Ikorodu to embrace maritime businesses, adding that the sector possesses more advantages than disadvantages.

“When the synergy between us and local governments is enforced, it will create direct and indirect employments, it will improve the standard of living and make the council grow more”.

“While Investment tendencies and revenue will grow, we’re also going to involve other security agencies to ensure the waterways are safe by preventing negative infiltrations” Captain Taiwo concluded

Speaking on behalf of the council and LCDA chairmen, Hon. Wasiu Adesina tagged the discussion as a welcome notion, expressing the council’s excitement to collaborate with the association for profitable means.

Adesina elucidated, “For us, this meeting is a criterion to look inward and improve our revenue system, it is also coming at a time when we need to lunge into the maritime industry to achieve endurable growth”.

“Our synergy with the association is not dwelling on generating revenue alone, but also to secure lives and property. If we eventually give them the approval, SIFAX GROUP in Apapa will come in, and then more container inflows will be operating in Ikorodu which would stimulate business activities”.

“Now, note that with more containers and trucks coming into Ikorodu, you will see some intruders trying to take advantage of the progress we’re making to perpetuate evil activities like bribery and theft, So on that scale, we’re working on putting the adequate security outfit in place before the operation commence”.

Adesina further explained that if the collaborative effort is officially launched in Ikorodu, it will attract key players like Dangote and Flower Mills to come onboard in boasting the sector and play a main function in the growth of living standards as well as contributing considerably to taking millions of people out of abject poverty.

“What we desire to do is to suitably harness this sector to unlock the full monetary capabilities of the oceans, surf, lakes, brooks and other water resources through stakes that encompass useful participation of all relevant stakeholders while conserving the reserves for current and prospective generations” Adesina concluded.