Lagos revamps water transport with high capacity boats
• Approves insurance cover on passengers using state- owned ferries
LAGOS State Governor, Babajide Sanwo- Olu, has expanded the capacity of the Lagos State Ferry Services ( LAGFERRY) with the delivery of seven additional high- capacity speedboats to shore up the agency’s fleet for rapid transit on the waterways.
To this end, the growing interest in water transportation by residents of Lagos State has received an encouraging response from the State Government.
The Governor flagged off the use of the new boats for commercial operations at an event held at the administrative yard of the Lagos State Waterways Authority ( LASWA), Five Cowries Terminal in Falomo, Ikoyi.
Also, the governor unveiled the use of Cowry Card for passengers using water transportation to create a seamless payment scheme in line with the State’s multimodal transportation system.
This integrates the LAGFERRY services to an automated payment solution already created for the BRT services and the State- owned rail lines, which are coming on board.
Sanwo- Olu, who was represented by is Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, said the procurement of the new boats was in fulfillment of the administration’s pledge to boost the fleet of LAGFERRY and increase its capacity to transport more Lagosians daily to reduce traffic congestion on the roads.
He said: “The impressive performance of LAGFERRY in the last one year is an indication of the growing confidence of the residents in water transportation. This justifies our decision to procure additional boats to enhance LAGFERRY’S operations and capacity to meet the transportation demands of its teeming passengers. The procurement of these new high- capacity boats is in fulfillment of our promise to double the number of boats in the fleet of LAGFERRY and increase its capacity to reduce traffic congestion on our roads.
“We are also launching the Cowry Card for water transporta - tion to create a seamless payment scheme for our multimodal transportation system, which is gradually taking shape as we have commenced the integration of our rail lines, bus termi - nals and waterways.
“I am pleased to inform you that we are already witnessing positive outcomes from our investment in the safety and viability of our waterways as a safe alternative to road transportation.”
He said government was currently undertaking the construction and rehabilitation of 15 jetties across the state, as well as embarking on the dredging of the Lagos lagoon to open up more routes in waterway transportation.
Sanwo- Olu said enhancement of LAGFERRY’S operations would help the state government to promote tourism and boost commerce by providing logistics solutions to business owners seeking to move their trucks and cargoes through the waterways within Apapa and also through regular charter services.
He said government alone could not be the value provider in the water transportation sector, noting that there were countless economic opportunities to be explored in the area. The Governor invited investors in the private sector investors to join in the efforts to strengthen waterways infrastructure.