In what seems an effort to make for its ban on the operations of commercial motorcycles and tricycles, Lagos State government is flagging off ferry operations with the target to lift 480,000 passengers daily on the waterways.
At least 14 passenger boats fitted with modern communication gadgets and Wi-Fi will be deployed in the first phase of the state commercial ferry service, which begins on Tuesday, February 4, at Obadore, in Ajah area of the state.
Ladi Balogun, managing director of Lagos Ferry, state-owned agency, said on Saturday, February 1, that Lagos Ferry will operate on all the water routes in Lagos, although in gradual phases according to the available capacity.
“These boats are in the following capacities: 60Pax Capacity 3units; 50pax Capacity 2units; 40pax Capacity 3units; 30Pax Capacity 4units, and 25Pax Capacity 2units,” said Balogun.
The water routes that will benefit from the service, according to Lagos Ferry MD, include Ipakodo terminal, Ikorodu-Five Cowries terminal, Falomo Ikoyi, Ipakodo terminal, Ikorodu-Ebute Ero Jetty-Elegbata –Lagos Island, Marina terminal CMS and Five Cowries terminal, Falomo Ikoyi, -Badore terminal, Ajah-Eti in Osa local government.
Others are Ebute Ero Jetty in Ojo, Ijegun Egba terminal, Amuwo-Odofin to Marina, CMS-Mile 2 terminal, Amuwo-Odofin -Liverpool Jetty, Apapa-Marina terminal CMS and Badore terminal, Ajah, in Eti-Osa local government- Ijede Jetty, Ikorodu.
The state government last week banned Okada and Keke from operating within the urbanised local areas of the state, including Ikeja, Surulere, Oshodi/Isolo, Apapa, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, among others, citing increasing accidents, loss of lives, insecurity and disregard to the Lagos State Road Traffic Law of 2018 as amended as some of the reasons for the action.
