The Managing Director of LAGFERRY, Dr Abdoulbaq Balogun, made this known at the organisation’s strategic management retreat on Saturday at Epe, Lagos State.

The retreat had the theme: “Sustainable Water Transportation and Lagos Transport Policy.”

Balogun said that it had plans to include electric boats and expand cargo movement across Lekki, Apapa, Ikorodu, Epe, and Badagry.

According to Balogun, this will reduce pressure on the road while boosting sustainable transport’s contribution to Lagos State’s economy.

On the Lagos State Transport Policy launched three years ago, he said that it covered all transport modes and focused on effective implementation and improvement of operational efficiency, especially within the water transport sub-sector.

“This retreat will strengthen human capacity, equipping personnel with skills and knowledge to drive sustainable transport development and supporting long-term growth of Lagos State’s water transport system.

“Attention is on the blue economy ecosystem, sustaining progress over six years through environmental management, reduced emissions, improved safety, and encourage water transport as a daily lifestyle choice,” he said.

Balogun praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for making boat captains public servants and securing lasting water transport gains, including approval for LAGFERRY headquarters construction at its Mile 2 Terminal.

Dr George Banjo, Managing Director, Transport and Development Consultants Partners Ltd., expressed hope that the participants would gain more knowledge about the Lagos Transport Policy.

According to Banjo, the policy is meant to drive the activities of LAGFERRY.

“Many policies often end up on shelves without proper execution.

“However, after approving the transport policy, the statec Ministry of Transportation took a decisive step by appointing capable personnel to drive its implementation.

“This singular action has yielded significant results, leading to notable achievements and improved progress in putting the policy into effect,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr Olawale Musa, said the three-day retreat was aimed at having a reflection, developing strategies, and aligning toward making waterways central to the integrated transport system of Lagos State.

Musa was represented by Mr Aderounmu Agbomeji, Director of Transport Policy and Coordination in the ministry.

He said that Lagos was rich in waterways  transforming inland transport into a reliable, eco-friendly system that aligned with the THEMES PLUS Agenda of the state, which prioritised efficient mobility and improved traffic management.

“Sustainable water transport reduces congestion, emissions and travel time while improving safety and quality of life and supporting a seamless multi-modal system connecting water, road and rail networks.

“Key focus areas include green technology, fleet modernisation, strict safety standards, and integration with broader transport systems to ensure efficiency, reliability, and increased passenger capacity.

“Affordability, inclusiveness, innovation, and private sector participation remain vital. This retreat seeks actionable outcomes, stronger collaborations and renewed commitment to advancing Lagos State’s  sustainable water transportation vision,” he said.

Source: NAN

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This is an example of a leader and father figure to students.

As a student of Linguistics in the University of Ibadan, Prof. Ayo Banjo was already Vice Chancellor of the institution and so, he never taught me (or did he once? I am not too sure). His office in the department was always under lock and key but the name plate was there proclaiming his presence.

As I read President Bola Tinubu’s congratulatory message on the joyous occasion of his 90th birthday this afternoon, two things came up vividly to mind: first was the popular joke at the Zik Hall, where I went to “squart” in my 300 level. I am a Bellite by the way (Sultan Bello Hall, to the uninitiated).

It happened that the Hall Warden of Zik Hall was a Mr. Odidi. A hefty individual who was as tough as they come. He never brooked nonsense and students feared him. Because of this, he wasn’t the most popular individual among Zikites. And so, they coined a proverb around him. A Yorùbá proverb says something like size doesn’t matter once you are adequate (not what you are thinking, you rascal ????). It says “orí ti yó gbe ni, kìí tó jankan-jankan” transliterated to mean your head doesn’t have to be too big for you to have good fortune. But Zikites turned it round and said “orí ti yó gbe ni kìí tó jankan-jankan, orí Banjo kò tó ti Odidi” meaning “Banjo’s head is smaller than Odidi’s even though he was just a hall warden while Banjo was the VC.

Someone said it one day without knowing that Odidi was passing by and the man rained some curses in retaliation.

As he becomes a nonagenarian, I wish Baba many happy returns and pray that he enjoys the remaining part of his life in good health and happiness.

But the serious issue:

The university management had decided to introduce examination fees to augment inadequate funding from the military government. As we were about to start the first semester examinations, notices went out that students would pay examination fees. Student Union Government immediately opposed such plans and vowed that it would not happen. There was palpable tension on campus. Some students opposed the plan on principle but it was a life and death situation for many others as they couldn’t afford it.

Suddenly, Prof. Banjo as VC invited every student to a meeting at the Senate Chambers. I got there early. We were chanting solidarity songs and then Banjo entered. As word went round that he was coming in, we raised our voices. Tension was high.

As he took his seat, the VC cleared his throat and in that baritone voice queried: “If I have so many students with such beautiful voices, why is UI choir so thinly populated?” He calmed many nerves as we chuckled. Next he asked “Is it that you don’t want to pay or you don’t have money to pay?” And the reply was mixed.

Then a representative of the students brought out a UI students journal published in the early 1960s and read out an article wherein the writer argued quite vehemently against introduction of examination fees by students in the university. There was no need to mention the name of the writer. Baba became weak. He looked down, looked up and looked directly at the student sitting in front of him and simply declared: “You can go and write your exams!” We roared in jubilation and left happy. Those who had already paid were refunded. Some of us had no means of paying and so, it was a lifeline.

As he becomes a nonagenarian, I wish Baba many happy returns and pray that he enjoys the remaining part of his life in good health and happiness. I wonder if there are vice chancellors like that anymore.

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In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu said Professor Banjo was renowned for his contributions to the development of the English Language curriculum in Nigeria and the promotion of Nigerian varieties of English.

“He is the former Chairman of the Board of the National Universities Commission and was Pro-Chancellor of the Universities of Port Harcourt, Ilorin, and Ajayi Crowther.

“His scholarly output includes over 50 publications, as well as widely-used textbooks in primary and secondary education,” he said.

According to Ngelale, the president celebrated the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan for his remarkable contributions to the development of education in Nigeria while wishing him good health and many more years filled with joy.

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The clandestine laboratory located at 4, Bode Oluwo Street, Mende, Maryland, Ikeja was stormed by anti-narcotics officers of the agency on Tuesday, June 6, after credible intelligence and surveillance confirmed the illicit substance was being produced in the duplex building.

At the end of the search, one kilogram of already produced and packaged methamphetamine, quantities of precursor chemicals and other items used for the production of the deadly drug were recovered from the house while efforts are on to apprehend the fleeing owner of the house.

In the same vein, officers of the Lagos command of the agency the previous day, Monday, June 5, arrested two suspects – Wasiu Saliu and  Afolabi Banjo – with 247 kilograms of skunk at Oyingbo area of Lagos while Tijani Damilola was nabbed at Isheri with 12.5 litres of skuchies and 98kg of cannabis sativa belonging to a fleeing suspect recovered at Akerele area of Agege just as 12.5kg of the same substance was seized from Adebowale Babatunde after his arrest at Mushin on Thursday, June 8.

Meanwhile, a consignment of 3.20kg skunk concealed in native black soap heading to the United Kingdom has been intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Wednesday, June 7, and a freight agent involved in the attempt to export the illicit drug, Olowokudejo Oladele Tonyi, arrested.

Similarly, a bid to export 3,000 pills of Tramadol 225mg concealed inside women hair attachments to Monrovia, Liberia, by a cargo agent, Akinwale Taiwo Bolutife, through the MMIA was thwarted by operatives who arrested him during the outward clearance of passengers at departure gate of terminal 2 of the Lagos airport.

In Benue, a suspect, Emmanuel Onah, was arrested during a routine stop and search of vehicles at the Vandeikya check point with a total of 61, 790 pills of tramadol seized from him on Thursday, June 8, while another suspect, Ikenna Jonathan Udeze, was nabbed at Otuo-Agor, Owan East local government area, Edo State, with 208kg cannabis hidden in his Toyota Camry car marked ABJ 117 MR.

No less than 235 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 23.5 litres and 1,500 pills of Tramadol and Swinol were recovered on Friday, June 9, from Agara Ogbonna, 35,  along Owerri-Onitsha Expressway, Imo State, just as operatives in Ondo State arrested two suspects – Friday Augustine, 25, and Segun Akintudoye, 20 – with 30kg cannabis at B-Ali Junction, Idanre and 10.4kg of the same substance recovered from the home of a fleeing suspect at Oke Odowo, Idanre, on Tuesday, June 6, when operatives raided some drug joints in the town.

In Kebbi State, Alin Bala, 45, and Danzaki Alhaji, 52, were arrested on Thursday, June 8, at Goran Maiyaki, Gwandu local government area with 5.9kg cannabis and 3,792 tablets of diazepam while 18-year-old Babangida Mande was nabbed on Friday, June 9, along Mararaban Yauri-Kebbi road, with 6kg cannabis and 658 tablets of diazepam.

In Osun State, a total of 115.9kg cannabis was recovered from Adewole Abidemi, 31, who was arrested at Araromi Oke Odo in Ife South local government area; Raji Musa, 25, and Alominile Folashade, 34, nabbed at Gbokuta village in the same local government area on Monday, June 5.

While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, Imo, Kebbi, Osun, Benue, Edo and Ondo commands for the seizures and arrests of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their counterparts across the country to remain vigilant and keep their focus on the corporate goal of the agency.

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