The Lagos State Ferry Service (LAGFERRY) on Sunday urged residents to explore waterways as a mean of transportation as it is an integral part of the agenda to reduce traffic on the roads.
Its Managing Director, Abdoulbaq Ladi Balogun, said this at the Ignite the Water Ways event in Lagos.
Balogun, who was represented by the Director of Administration and Human Resources of Lagferry, Mrs. Bunmi Mofunlewi, said: “We realise that beyond transportation a lot can also be done on the waterways such as hosting event, relaxing and enjoying the fresh ambience of nature. LAGFERRY is in partnership with the Lagos State Government to entertain residents and would conform to the Inter Modal Transportation Agenda of the Lagos State Government.”
LAGFERRY Head of Operations, Semasa Amos, also said ‘Lagosians’ can hold weddings, awards, meetings, burials and all forms of parties on the waterways. “We want to improve on service delivery to attract more customers. We also want to bring more events. This year, we are planning to have Valentine’s Day and Independence Day celebrations on the waterways. We intend to take customers to different relaxation tourist centres across Lagos every month for them to have fun.”
Also so speaking, the All Progressive Congress (APC), Lagos State Youth Leader, Dr. Muritala Seriki, who hailed the state government for allowing LAGFERRY to expose residents to water tourism and transportation said that the waterways tourism event was initiated as an avenue for people to have fun and begin the year with joy.
Seriki noted that from his last monitoring of water hyacinth, he discovered that the Lagos State Government has been trying to remove all the water hyacinth across Lagos waters.
The Business Head Marine of Yamaha Ltd, Mr Adeola Alademodi, also commended the State Government and LAGFERRY for celebrating their customers on waterways. “I had a very bad experience with water transportation, I use the waterways from Ikorodu to CMS almost every day and because of the water hyacinth three boats were damaged and it was difficult for most of us who lived in Ikorodu to reach office on time. We expect the government to look for a permanent solution to clear the water hyacinth as soon as it appears, in order to reduce passenger stress of commuting by road.”
He also urged the Lagos State Government to stop the water hyacinth menace and appealed for investment in more boats and jetties in Lagos.
