The Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association of Nigeria (WABOTAN) has revealed plans to replicate the e-hailing model on the country’s waterways with water taxis.
The Spokesman for WABOTAN, Raymond Gold, stated this when the association paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) office.
Gold said the association has plans to create e-hailing rides on the waterways, such that the pressure felt on the roads would be reduced.
While listing some of the aims and objectives of the association, he said members would be empowered in the long run to start manufacturing speedboat engines.
“We are looking out for the mechanics and repairers that would be working on the boat engines, we have plans for them and our members would be involved. It would get to a point that we would be looking at outright manufacturing of the engines, instead of importing them, our members are manufacturing fibre boats already,” he stated
He said the association is saddled with promoting safety and security on waterways, training and re-training members to develop and build manpower for the water transport sector.
Gold further stated that the association is focused on creating a database that can assist in the implementation of plans to assist government agencies in seamlessly collecting government revenue.(The Guardian)
•PHOTO: Water taxis
