By Kenneth Jukpor
A Lagos State gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 general elections, Dr. Segun Musa has described the collection of Wharf Landing Fees by the Lagos State Government as a fraud that should be stopped immediately.
Dr. Musa made this statement while addressing journalists under the aegis of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) recently, revealing that he intends to stop the collection of wharf landing fees, if given the mandate as Lagos State governor.
Giving his reasons for contesting for the gubernatorial seat, the freight forwarding veteran said; “I’m coming out because I have something to offer. Lagos has never had governors; what we have had are contractors. These people were only keen on beautifying Lagos without addressing the immediate needs of the State”
“Lagos is yet to become a mega-city. I’m not referring to the land mass or population but other issues such as security. Security is one of the major criteria on measuring a mega city. Another factor is transportation and the other is housing. There is also the problem of basic infrastructure and the need to guarantee healthy business environment.
He recalled that the United Nations predicted that the population is most mega cities would increase by more than 25%; expressing worry as to the state of affairs in Lagos State when the population increases by more than six million people (25%).
“Imagine what would happen if that happens in Lagos State” he queried.
Musa labeled MARAN as a key stakeholder especially for those in the maritime industry, even as he assured that his party, the Advanced National Democratic Party (ANDP) would explore the numerous potentials inherent in Lagos State’s maritime sector.
He pledged to fully harness the aquatic splendour status the state is known for by transforming it into a tourism hub for the African continent if elected the governor this year.
Musa, who is a former Chairman of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) chapter of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) took a swipe at the past leaderships in the state for failing harness and utilize the tourism potentials of the state.
According to him, as a coastal state with vast length of navigable inland waterways, Lagos has all it takes to compete favourably with Dubai, which is a desert in terms of tourism potential, but regretted that past and present crop of leaders in the state have failed in identifying and harnessing this tourism potential, which would have elevated the state’s economy to an enviable height.
He said: “Past and present governors of Lagos State are busy sand- filling the waters in the state in order to build commercial housing estates but unknown to them is the fact revenue from housing estates would not be as much as 10 per cent compared to the revenue that would come from water transport and tourism in addition to creating lots of jobs.
