There are indications that the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has began clamping down on boat operators on Lagos waters over their refusal to comply with the payment of N5, 000 purportedly for boat stickers.
Confirming this to Shipping Position Daily in Lagos yesterday, Chairman of the Liverpool Unit of Lagos Commercial Boat District of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN); Comrade Aiyeyemi Omosuyi vowed that the operators would not pay double taxation to the NIWA as well as Lagos State Water Authority (LASWA).
He said that the legal battle between NIWA and LASWA is taking a toll on the boat operators because the operators are no longer sure of who has the legal stand to collect the dues.
Speaking with our correspondent, Omosuyi said: “We have some issues here, the NIWA were arresting our boats that they want to be collecting money, but I told them that their case is still in court and that they should not bother us, presently we don’t know who to pay our dues to, NIWA collects money from us, LASWA would collect money, we have asked them to wait until the court decides”
“They said that their ticket is N5, 000, but I told them that this year is already gone; we should look at it from next year February, by then, when the court judgment has come out. But I heard that the court judgment has come out, I have not seen it, so I cannot give them anything”, he Sid.
Omosuyi also said that the N5, 000 is for the sticker which is required to be placed on the engine of the boats. He said the money is to be collected by NIWA annually.
“We have equally appealed to them to reduce it to N3, 000, they have agreed with me, but why I said I would not give them is because of the case that is in court. On the aspect of the Lagos Government, LASWA has also asked us to bring our boats for registration; they want the boat owners to register with them”, he said
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