‘No drug trafficking at Tarzan Boats’
Managing Director, Tarzan Marine Enterprises Limited, Engr. Ganiyu Shekoni Balogun has refuted claims linking Tarzan Boats operations to drug trafficking, describing the allegations as misleading narratives that do not reflect
Managing Director, Tarzan Marine Enterprises Limited, Engr. Ganiyu Shekoni Balogun has refuted claims linking Tarzan Boats operations to drug trafficking, describing the allegations as misleading narratives that do not reflect the company’s values or operations. He said the claims are not only false, but dangerous in their potential to erode trust built over years on the water. He insisted that Tarzan Boats had never been involved in drug trafficking or any form of criminal activity
Balogun explained that Tarzan Boats run a strict zero-tolerance policy toward drugs and other illegal activities. According to him, the waterways are already challenged by safety concerns, regulatory gaps, and public perception issues, and any association with crime would undermine the fragile confidence commuters place in marine transport. “We are in the business of moving people safely,” he says in effect, “not in compromising the law or society.”
He stressed that the company’s internal rules are clear and uncompromising. Any staff member found to be involved in criminal activity, whether on duty or outside it, would be immediately reported and handed over to law enforcement agencies. He noted that there is no room for internal cover-ups or quiet dismissals when the issue involves public safety and national laws.
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One of the less visible but critical policies the company highlights is its refusal to transport goods or parcels for passengers. In a transport environment where convenience often blurs boundaries, Tarzan Boats have drawn a firm line. Passengers are allowed to board with personal belongings only, a decision Balogun says was taken deliberately to prevent abuse of the service. The policy, he adds, protects both the company and its passengers from being unknowingly entangled in illegal activities.
On the jetties, regular commuters seem to understand this logic. For many, marine transport is not a luxury but a daily necessity, a way to cut hours off road journeys and arrive at work or home with some energy left. The idea that a boat operator would risk that trust for illicit gain feels, to them, out of character. Some describe Tarzan Boats as predictable and professional, qualities that are rare and therefore valued in the often-chaotic transport ecosystem.
Read Also: Seven jailed for drug trafficking in Edo
The company’s management believes that the allegations reflect a broader challenge facing water transport operators in Nigeria: suspicion fueled by isolated incidents elsewhere, misinformation, and the absence of consistent public education about how regulated operators actually work. Balogun argued that painting all marine operators with the same brush only discourages investment and innovation in a sector that could ease pressure on overcrowded roads.
He pointed out that Tarzan Boats has repeatedly cooperated with relevant authorities and complied with regulatory requirements governing water transport. From passenger manifests to safety protocols, the company says its operations are open to scrutiny. In Balogun’s view, transparency is the strongest defense against rumour and speculation.
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Beyond defending its name, the company sees the moment as an opportunity to reaffirm its identity. Tarzan Boats want to be known not just as a transport provider, but as a responsible player in Nigeria’s evolving mobility story. The waterways, after all, are not just channels of movement; they are shared public spaces that require trust, discipline, and respect for the law to function properly.
As the sun dips and the last boats of the day prepare to dock, the message from Tarzan Marine Enterprises is straightforward. Allegations may travel fast, but truth, they insist, must be anchored in facts.
For now, the company says it will remain focused on its core task: moving passengers safely across the water, keeping its decks clear of anything that does not belong there, and protecting a reputation it believes has been earned one trip at a time.
