LAGFERRY transported 15,000 commuters in February, says MD

The Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRY)  transported no fewer than  15, 000 commuters with its 14 passenger boats on waterways in February.

Mr AbdoulBaq Balogun, its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, said this  in an interview on Wednesday in Lagos.

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The boats began operations on Feb. 4, at Obadore Ajah area of the state.

They were launched to cushion the effects of the restriction in the operations of motorcycles and tricycles  in areas of the state that could be reached through the waterways.

The Lagos State Government recently unveiled 14 new ferryboats to strengthen the inland waterways transportation system and make commuting in the state easier for the residents.

Balogun, evaluating  LAGFERRY operations in February, said that several commuters leaving  along the coastal lines of the state  welcomed the operations and were seeking more ferries.

‘The services of ferry operations have been embraced by all Lagosians and it is really very impressive, particularly, with the number of passengers that we have been able to carry in the last one month that we started operations.

“Passengers are asking  that more boats  be deployed now across the state.

“As much as they wanted, it is unfortunate that we don’t have the capacity enough to carry them. We have limited number of boats and we have more people to carry.

“That shows us that there are  some areas where we need to improve on our services.

“Approximately, we were  able to move up to 15, 000 passengers within a month. That was even because we have not been able to stabilise our operations due to some challenges we encountered,” Balogun said.

He said that the agency was looking at how it could  increase its capacity to provide a smart, fast, convenient, efficient and dependable alternative transit system on  the waterways.

According to him, the agency is having some challenges because some facilities on  the waterways do not belong to the Lagos State Government.

He said that they  belonged to the Federal Government while some landing areas and jetties belonged to some  private individuals.

Balogun said that the management of LAGFERRY was already having talks and engagement with the stakeholders  that could help solve challenges facing  its operations.

“So, it has not been rosy so to say as we are encountering some challenges and we are surmounting those challenges one after the other,” the LAGFERRY boss said.

According to him, the agency has 14 passengers and one cargo boats deployed to various routes along the waterways.

He said that the passenger boats were of different sizes and capacities which include those for  60 passengers, 50 passengers, 40 passengers, 30 passengers and 25 passengers respectively.

Balogun said  that more  infrastructure facilities  were still been expected from the state government.

He  added that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had demonstrated his  commitment to developing the  water transportation  system in Lagos State.

The LAGFERRY boss said: “We need to do more in bringing our terminals and jetties to standard required for safety of passengers and easy berthing of the boats.

“We have a couple of terminals that are very standards and we can compare them  to what is available anywhere in the world.

He listed the world-class-standard jetties in the state to include: the Five Cowries Terminal in Ikoyi, I Love Lagos Terminal at Bariga, and  Igbogbo-Bayeku Terminal  in Ikorodu.

LAGFERRY routes include: Ikorodu to Falomo; Ikorodu to Ebute Ero and Marina; Ebute Ero to Ijegun Egba, Apapa and Marina; Bayeku to Oke Ira Nla and Falomo; Mile 2 to Marina; and Badore to Ijede.

The terminals and jetties include: Ipakodo Terminal in Ikorodu; Five Cowries Terminal at  Falomo, Ikoyi; Ikorodu/Ebute Ero Jetty, Elegbata, Lagos Island.

Others are: Marina Terminal at CMS; Badore Terminal at Ajah in Eti-Osa Council; Ebute Ero Jetty at  Ojo; and Ijegun Egba Terminal.

(NAN)