Sanwo-Olu has invested more on water transportation, says LAGFERY boss

Managing Director, Lagos State Ferry Services (LAGFERRY), Abdoulbaq Ladi Balogun, on Monday said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has invested more on water transportation in Lagos State.

Balogun made this known during a media parley with newsmen in his office at Mile 2 Terminal, Amuwo-Odofin.

“This administration has shown greater dedication and genuine commitment to ensuring viable alternatives to road transportation and decongest traffic through unprecedented massive investment in procurement of boats, construction and rehabilitation of terminals/jetties to open up new areas to water transportation, dredging of the waterways, removal of wreckages along the coastline and investment in security and safety equipment through the construction of Real-Time Control and Command Centres to safeguard the waterways and ensure quick emergency response,” he said.

Balogun added that in the last three years of the administration, the agency has been able to record unprecedented milestones having in its fleet 20 boats, ferries over 800,000 passengers daily in over 14 routes cut across all divisions in the state.

LAGFERRY, he added, has also created direct and indirect employment for over 250 Lagosians, ensured all passengers are covered by insurance on all trips, enabling commerce with innovative logistics cargo barge services for conglomerates like Dangote Industries, Crown Flour Mills, HoneyWell Flour Mills, BUA Group etc.

Balogun said the agency is also promoting tourism through regular charter services to beaches and tourism destinations in the state and partnering with tourism companies and entertainment managers to organise periodic events such as the St. Valentine boat cruise, International Women’s Day event, Nigeria Independence Cruise amongst several other events on the waterways by making use of the 180 tonnage barge which can seat over 200 guests and can be used to host weddings, birthday parties, basketball games and all kinds of events, shows and musical concerts while cruising on the waters and enjoying the ambiance of the Lagos coastline.

“There is the Park and Ride option available at our terminals, which enables commuters to leave their cars at the available ample car park spaces and go on the boat to their various destinations. The terminal engages in other commercial activities for commuters leisure and conveniences such as ATM Services, Restaurants,” he added.

Balogun, while taking the media crew round the Mile 2 Terminal, the E-Fleet Surveillance Control Room where all the boats are monitored in real-time to ensure safety of passengers, explained that Mile 2 is one of the areas within the metropolis where the rail, road and water transport systems interconnects to achieve the Multi-Modal transport system as enshrined in the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda of the administration where Traffic Management and Transportation is the first pillar.

“From Mile 2 and CMS Marina terminals, you can connect the rail, get on a BRT bus or go by boat to any destination you so desire. You can achieve this three modes of transportation by making use of the widely acceptable COWRY CARD payment system,” he said.

While assuring commuters that government will continually procure more boats to meet increasing demands and ensure regular maintenance of existing ones to guarantee commuter safety, Balogun appealed to Lagosians to embrace the waterways and called for more private investment as he stated that there is a need to ensure Lagos benefits from the Blue Ocean Economy with a global asset base of over $24 trillion, generating at least $2.5 trillion each year from the combination of fishing and aquaculture, shipping, tourism, and other activities.