SIFAX Group Suspends Ferry Services , Partners South African Firm To Build New Crafts

SIFAX Group on Thursday said it has suspended it ferry operations as part of efforts to strategies in boosting marine transportation operations.

The move the conglomerate stated was to correct the earlier mistake the conglomerate made in the acquisition of two ferries off shops which eventually did not produce economic returns to the company.

Muyiwa Akande, Manager, Corporate Affairs of the Group who disclosed this in a chat with our correspondent stated that the operations of the two ferries earlier acquired have been suspended .

He explained that the new arrangement would entail a South African firm to build and manage the ferries for the company adding that they will serve as the technical partners in the new deal.

Even though Akande could not give ascertain when the deal would sail through, he enthused that discussions are at advanced stage to bring the partnership into fruition.

According to him, Marine Unit of the conglomerate are working closely with the South Africa company to actualise the business plan of water transportation.

He noted that “We have suspended operations for now and the major reason is that we are looking at getting new equipment that will be more economically profitable.

“We are actually partnering with a company in South Africa that is into ferry building. The company is going to build according to our specifications. They will build to our taste and they will also be like a partner in the business.

“Discussion is ongoing now on that and that is where we are and we are looking as starting with between five and ten ferries.

“Though I don’t have the timeline that they will formally sign agreement with us and we will then know the duration it will take them to build the ferries.

“It is going to be of advantage to us because they don’t only build, they also manage because they are experienced in it,” he maintained.

Asked about the seaworthiness of the two vessels which were operational in time past, the spokesman maintained that the water crafts are currently anchored within the concessionaire jetty in Lagos, pointing out that “The ferries might have encountered some technical hitches considering the fact that they have anchored at the jetty for a long while. ”

In 2018, SIFAX Group commenced ferry service operations from its newly-concessioned terminal, Ebute Ojo Jetty, in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Two 30-passenger capacity ultra-modern boats were deployed for these operations.

The ferry service operates on Ebute Ojo-Apapa (Liverpool) and Mile 2 (Capital Oil Jetty) – Apapa routes from 7am to 7pm every week day while charter services are also available everyday for private individuals and fun seekers who want to explore the Lagos water fronts.

 

By Roland Ekama