The Lagos State Ferry Services (LAGFERRY) says the water transportation contribution revenue to the state’s entire transportation revenue matrix increased from 0.8 per cent to 11 per cent.
Mr Abdoulbaq Balogun, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, LAGFERRY, said this at the agency’s three-day management retreat on Saturday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the retreat was: “Leveraging Waterways Assets for Improved Revenue Performance.”
Balogun said the revenue contribution which stood at 0.8 per cent in 2021 rose to 0.11 per cent in August 2024.
He attributed the growth to increase in routes, logistics solutions provided to organisations such as Dangote, Honeywell and others across the waterways.
Balogun noted that since Feb. 6, 2020 when the ferry service started its operations after the launch of the first boat, eight boats had been given by the state’s governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at Badore Terminal.
He said that the agency had moved two million people with 20 boats.
“Initially, when Mr Governor came on board, we had four boats and he gave us additional eight and an additional seven in 2021, because he was impressed with what we were doing.
“The mandate given to us by Mr Governor was to move 480,000 ridership and we are looking at it to decongest the road and move people on the waterways and so we need to do more.
“We need more watercrafts to do the business and increase on our advocacy and sensitisation to bring more people on board the waterways.
“We have sustainably and gradually consistently achieved two decades improvement since we started.
“From 0.8 per cent which was what water transportation contributed to the entire transportation matrix of Lagos State, we have been able to move to 11 per cent today,” he said.
He said the agency was bringing to the table faster service to destinations and healthier means of transportation as there would not be any carbon emissions and traffic.
He added that all these values would be taken to the grassroots through advocacy and sensitisation to achieve the 480,000 passengers daily target using the waterways.
He pointed out that with 25 million residents, the state would not rely on a single mode of transportation unless it was to bring in chaos.
“For us to avoid the chaotic movement of the people, it is of essence to use our natural resources, the waterways. We have the rail system working very well, the Blueline, Redline working and the Bus Rapid Transport system.
“We also have other commercial road transportation options like the LAGRide, First-mile and Last-mile buses.
“All these services are the transportation encompass under the first pillar of T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda of Mr Governor to manage traffic and ensure a seamless and robust transportation system in Lagos State.
“That is why the multimodal system of transportation we have in Lagos State is very functional and very purposeful. Mr Governor is very intentional about integrating all these modes of transportation,” he said.
He said that the Lagos State Government could not do it alone, the reason Mr Governor was encouraging private participation in the waterways business, as a way to enhance the potential of the blue economy in the state.
“$1.7 million globally annually is what the blue economy represents, so how do we plug in as a state, business,” he asked?
On accessing the jetties, he said it had to do with a multi-sectorial approach, with the Ministry of Works delivering the road that would lead to the jetties.
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“Purposely, when we are citing a jetty, we look at the connection options, those connecting the road, rail or the waterways.
“I am particular about Igbobobaiko because from there to Lekki, it’s just 10 minutes by the waterways. So, it means from Lagos East to Lagos Central, you are using 10 minutes to get there which one cannot get using the road.
“That is why I say there are faster options on the waterways,” he said. (NAN)
