Ferry Services Records 1175 Passengers, 53 Trips Per Day On Lagos Waterways

Despite the reduction of passengers in line with the social distancing directive against the backdrop of the COVID19 pandemic, the Lagos State ferry Service also known as LAGFERRY said it recorded a total of 1,175 Passengers, 53 trips per day on the Lagos waterways.

This is coming barely 61 days of active operational services by the state owned ferry services after the commissioning of the twelve vessels.

As sighted by Dailyfocus Nigeria ,on the official website of the Lagos State Government, pointed that a combined operations by the fleets made it possible to ferry passengers to and fro various destination of the inland waterways.

The state owned water transport service operator said:” Despite the 60% limited operating capacity forced by COVID-19, LAGFERRY recorded highest passengers’ ridership on a single day of ferry operation , commuting a total of 1175 passengers (in lieu of 100% 2120 Pax).

“On Wednesday – June 10, 2020; it’s exactly 61 days of excellent commuting services on inland waterways of Lagos State since Mr. Governor @jidesanwoolu launched the Commercial Operations of the reinvigorated LAGFERRY.

“This was achieved through a combined 53 trips by the 12 passengers boats in our fleet covering cumulative distances of 1422km within 1658 minutes of operations across strategic routes of Ikorodu , Ojo , Ijegun Egba , Mile 2 , Apapa Liverpool , TinCan Island , CMS/MARINA , *Ebute Ero , Ijede , Victoria Island, Falomo-Ikoyi and Badore.

According to it, “TEAMWORK” made this possible. Thanks to all Seamen, Supporting Staffers and our Esteemed Passengers.

It also commended crew aboard Al the vessels for efficient operations of MV ALAUSA , MV IPAKODO , MV EJIRIN , MV ITESIWAJU , MV MOBOLAJI JOHNSON, MV BOLA TINUBU , MV *IGBEGA EKO , MV OBA AKIOLU , MV *LATEEF JAKANDE , MV BABATUNDE FASHOLA, MV AKRAN and MV *AYANGBUREN

“It is gratifying to note that the deliberate commitments of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration to engender intermodal transportation system is taking shape as Lagosians take to water transportation.

Recall that the ferry service earlier in the week took delivery of 6 units of Yamaha 300Hp Ultra Long Outboard 4-Stroke Engines to boost the efficiency of its operations.

“These invaluable assets will be the first by any commercial ferry operator on the Inland waterways of the country.

“The quality addition will be immediately installed to increase the engine capacities of MV Ejirin, MV Ipakodo and MV Alausa to 600Hp per boat and increase their cruising speed by 40%.

” This means that, these bigger boats will complete a journey of 23Km (Ikorodu – Lagos Island) within 40 minutes instead of 70 minutes,”,a statement by the state government added.

 

By Roland Ekama