The Managing Director, Lagos State Ferry Services (LAGFERRY), Mr Abdoulbaq Balogun, said on Tuesday the agency commuted 524,000 passengers through the waterways within 317 days.
Balogun said this during the inauguration of new boats and unveiling of cowry card for water transportation in Falomo.
He said passengers commuting through the waterways were increasing daily, with average passenger flow of over 1,500.
According to him, a total of the agency’s 12 passenger boats have collectively run 7,061 hours spanning 286,280 kilometers, for 10,182 trips.
The managing director said as of May 2021, the agency ferried on charter services 5,892 passengers.
Balogun said the 5,892 passengers include business people for meetings and AGMs, tourists and revellers to beaches of Ilashe, Takwa Beaches, Badagry Sanctuary and Epe Fish Market, thereby promoting tourism potential of Lagos State.
“We boast of an impressive safety record as we can proudly tell you that we have never recorded any accident since the agency started commercial operations on the 6th of February, 2020, with professional guidance of our regulators, NIWA and LASWA.
“With the kind approval of Mr Governor, all passengers on the boats of LAGFERRY can now enjoy insurance cover on all trips.
“Passengers are up for excitement times on the waterways with the first of its kind Sailing and Smiling Raffle Promo with several prizes to be won including a MG Saloon Car every quarter. This is made possible with our collaboration with the private sector.
“We are constantly enabling commerce by providing logistics solution to business conglomerates like Dangote Industries, Honeywell, BUA, Crown Flour Mills, amongst others.
“We have assisted them in moving their trucks and containers on the waterways within the Apapa axis that is presently unaccessable due to ongoing road reconstruction,” he said.
Balogun said to date, LAGFERRY had successfully moved over 41,040 trucks from the terminal.
He said over 2,308 cleared goods containers had been received from the port and well over 941 containers had been loaded back to the port.
Balogun said the agency had also been able to create employment for 284 directly and indirectly, and was paying taxes to the coffers of Lagos State.
He said the mandate given to the agency by the governor to move 30 per cent of Lagosians by the waterways in order to decongest the road was well understood.
“We equally understand the enormous responsibility and challenge before us and want to assure that we will not betray the confidence reposed in us,” the LAGFERRY MD said.
