Kunle Adelabu
The former Executive Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State on Marine Matters, Prince Yommy Sopitan, has explained why he always asked coastal ways regulators to arrest his own boat.
Prince Sopitan, who is a marine professional and Managing Director, Royal Waves, explained the need to safeguard lives of passengers as the main motivating factor behind his actions and decisions.
He was also the pioneer executive assistant to the governor of Lagos State from 2021 to 2023.
He also pointed at the need to instill discipline in his captains and their crew members as another reason for his actions, when responding to someone that raised the issue while guests were paying tributes at Prince Sopitan’s birthday bash hosted by stakeholders in the maritime industry, at the Ikorodu Ferry Terminal on Wednesday.
“Officer Mukaila brought back a memory while he made his remarks about me, which might sound very tough, but it is the right thing to do. It is true that when I ran the Royal Waves Ferry from Ijede to Ajah, Victoria Island and CMS, that I would be the one that would call the LASWA, NIWA and the Marine Police to arrest my own boats. Is that not shocking?
“We have passenger boats which are operated by captains and crew members. Whenever I discover sachets of hot drink on the floor or where they were hidden after any boat departs from the Royal Waves terminal, which I built by myself, I usually act.
“These are boats with about 20 or 25 passengers and a captain who had taken about three sachets of Chelsea or other drink and sailing passengers across the Lagos lagoon under the influence of alcohol.
“It is against the regulations of navigating on waterways anywhere across the globe and not ideal. So, I have to call LASWA, NIWA and the marine police to tell them to arrest the Royal Waves boat and ask the passengers to disembark,” he explained his strict action.
He further stated that such a captain is usually detained throughout the day.
“I usually asked them to meet Mr Segun Adekoya then, who usually conducted tests to determine if the captain and his crew members had taken alcohol.
“Once my captain was discovered to be under the influence of alcohol, he woulr be arrested around 9am in the morning and would not be released and I would have him released around 3pm in the afternoon.
“This is just my way of saving lives and not allowing the irresponsibility of a captain to affect the passengers. It’s about discipline,” Prince Sopitan added.
The celebrant emphasised his strict nature and discipline: “Even Femi, my younger brother whom many called my Personal Assistant, when we got so close and he wanted to run away, I insisted that he was going nowhere and that he must do the work the way I wanted. He listens, takes corrections and today, it’s glory be to God.
“This is about discipline. You must do the right thing at all times,” he said.
