HOW GANIU SEKONI IS CHANGING THE PERSPECTIVE OF LAGOS WATER STATE SPACE|Blissful Affairs Online
HOW GANIU SEKONI IS CHANGING THE PERSPECTIVE OF LAGOS WATER STATE SPACE

He is a committed man who wants the best for the Lagos Water Space. Since he founded TARZAN

WATER TRANSPORTATION years back, he has proven his mettle in changing the perspective of water transportation in Lagos State, to be candid, Mr. Ganiu Sekoni has surely inspired many other investors into the Nigerian water space having been inspired by his success in his business. Blissful Affairs Magazine is out to celebrate Mr. Sekoni, on his magnificent and tremendous contribution to the Lagos State Water Space and which he plans to extend to the national scopeEnjoy the excerpts:
Q: Can you tell us about yourself?
A: I am Ganiyu Shekoni Balogun popularly known as the Boat Man, Tarzan and CEO of Gani Tarzan Marine Enterprises Limited. I am also the National President of Association of Boat Tourist Operators and Water Transporters [ABTOWAT]. What we do basically at Tarzan is providing water transportation, tourism and repairs of boat, engines including building of boats that carry badge across carrier bridge in Ikoyi and we still move construction materials across Lagos State. Our company operates in Victoria Island, Ijede, Ikorodu, Ikoyi and to any beaches of your choice in Lagos State beside the Atlantic Ocean.

Q: For how long have you been in the industry Sir?
A: To be candid, l have been in the industry for more than three decades [30 years]

Q: So, over these long years, what are the challenges you have faced?
A: Any good thing in life must surely come with challenges and in the process of working for what you want in life, you must face challenges. But as they say that when the going is tough, the tough gets going. I remember 20 years ago, when we have to take Jerri cans to the filling station to get our fuel, l faced a lot of physical harassment because people always report that l have been arrested by the police for bunkering and l told them that l have never been involved in any illegal activities as far as my business is concerned. Fortunately, our boats have names like Johnson, Yamaha, Suzuki, Tualsu and whenever you buy engines for boats, there is a name that comes with it and that is a prove that you are involved in any illegal bunkering. Another challenge is that on the water ways, we have multiple taxation, multiple regulators which are clamoring for them to streamline. It should either be the Federal, State or Local Government that should be collecting taxes because they all have laws on the same water and so we don’t even know who is our father. It’s another big issue confronting us in this business of water transportation, all of us that are into the business want the government to tell us the real custodian of water transportation both in Nigeria and Lagos State. Many years ago, you see few boats on the water but today, there many boats. So, basically multiple taxation and difficulty in getting fuel for our boats are very challenging and we are struggling that we should have a fuel supplying vessel on the waterways so that we don’t need to go to the filling station to get our fuels.
Q: What is the effect of the country’s economy on your business?
A: Well, it has affected every businessman. Now, we have to increase salary of our workers because we know that what you are buying for 10 naira before is now 15 naira so we don’t have any choice, the economy is biting so hard. However, we pray that things will go back to normal,
Q: What is your take on the ambitions of those clamoring to be Nigerian’s President?
A: To be candid, before we use to say that does my vote counts but, now our votes counts. We all need to vote for whoever we believe that can lead us to the promised land, but it’s only God that can lead us even if it’s Atiku, Tinubu, Ada, Tarzan [general laughter] we need somebody that will have the feelings of the people in mind and not his pocket. So, we as Nigerians need to do the right and not rely on any leader. There is a saying that uneasy heads wear the crown. When President Buhari said Nigerian youths are lazy, people complained and it lead to the Endsars protest but today, go to the streets and see how Nigerian youths are begging rather than working. It has gotten to the extent that l personally have to be careful because many times, things are stolen from my office most especially on the boats by these so-called youths. Again, we need to take care of the policemen so that they can do these jobs properly. I learnt that if a man police man dies, maximum of three months they will ejects his family from the barracks. Where do you expect the family to and stay, the children no more go to school and that could be the end of their careers. So, if they are properly trained and allowed to do their jobs, things will be alright. I think our government should center on the police because they are a priority to us and they are made to protect the Law and the Citizens. So, if they are not protected, how can they protect anybody. I may not have policemen in my family, but l sincerely believe that they must be respected and protectedSo, government should work on everyone of us generally, most especially the youths in order for us to have a better country
