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Lagos begins Commercial Water Transportation, as Sanwo-Olu launches new Speed Boats

...Gov Calls For Private Sector Participation

...Commissioner Unveils LAGFERRY’s Six Routes Of Operations

Lagos State Government has formally kicked off commercial waterways transportation, with the official launch of eight newly acquired speed boats by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday.

Sanwo-Olu unveiled the speed boats, which will be operated by the Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRY), at a ceremony held at Badore Ferry Terminal in Eti-Osa Local Government Area.

The event marked the commencement of commercial operations in waterways transportation by LAGFERRY. The Governor also launched a mobile application designed to facilitate easy access to the water transportation services.

Sanwo-Olu said the intervention represented a “great leap” in his administration’s strategy to deliver an effective and integrated inter-modal transportation system in addressing the perennial issue of traffic congestion on the roads.

He said: “The narrative of transportation in Lagos is about to change for good, as we are set to take full advantage of the water bodies to decongest our roads and substantially reduce travel time for commuters.

“Today, we are launching eight units of additional ferries to complement the existing six ferries in the fleet of Lagos Ferry Service. It is glaring that for Lagos to be a functional smart city that we desire, there must be diversification of the mode of transportation. There must be interconnectivity of the rail, road and water transportation systems.”

The design and fabrication of the new boats were totally worked out by two local boats manufacturers in line with Sanwo-Olu’s promise to exploring local capacity in providing solutions to various challenges.

The Governor observed that the commencement of commercial operations on waterways would promote a healthy living and restore aesthetics of environment through reduction of carbon emission.

He charged private investors to move in and harness opportunities in the value chain, noting that the Government had solved the teething problems associated with the mode of transportation and infrastructure.

“We are fully committed to increase investment in the development of more routes on the waterways. To consolidate on infrastructure we have provided on the waterways, we will embark on the construction of more jetties and provision of more modern ferry boats to create opportunities for more private sector participation in water transportation,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The Governor said the State would drive full compliance on measures put in place to ensure the safety of commuters using the waterways, adding that the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) was being strengthened to effectively discharge its monitoring and regulatory duties in line with best practice.

He said: “We are going to spread the efficiency of the LAGFERRY services to meet the demand of the people at various times of the day. Before the end of the year, we will double the capacity in the LAGFERRY’s fleet from 14 to 30 boats. This is to enable the agency discharge its mandate to ease the movement of Lagosians from various parts of the city to another through the waterways.”

Sanwo-Olu promised that modern jetties would also be built in Badagry, Lekki, and Ajegunle, pledging that the one being built in Ijegun would be completed.

Chief Executive Officer of LAGFERRY, Hon. Abdulbaq Balogun said the launching charted a new course for water transportation in the State.

The agency, Balogun said, remained fully committed to exploring the capacity of waterways to strengthen mass transportation in line with transportation blueprint of the Sanwo-Olu administration.

With over 30 jetties across the State, the LAGFERRY boss said Lagos had provided infrastructure to boost water transportation, adding that the commencement of commercial operations by the agency would reduce persistent gridlock on the highways.

He said: “With our global water transportation licence, LAGFERRY will operate on all the waterways routes in Lagos, starting gradually according to the available capacity. We will be deploying all our 14 available ferries to cover the three senatorial zones immediately.

“Our well developed and properly coordinated water transportation is also helping in haulage across the State, moving trucks, containers and goods, thereby relieving the roads of heavy duty trucks which contribute in no small measure to failure of roads.”

Before the fourth quarter of the year, Balogun said LAGFERRY would extend its services to all 40 water routes licenced for Lagos.

Also, Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Frederic Oladehinde, described the event as another giant stride in Transport Sector Reform embarked on by the Sanwo-Olu administration, saying the standard of the boats would meet the transportation need of residents in an emerging Smart City.

Oladehinde announced the six routes of LAGFERRY’s operations, which include Ikorodu to Falomo; Ikorodu to Ebute Ero and Marina; Ebute Ojo to Ijegun Egba, Apapa and Marina; Bayeku to Oke Ira Nla and Falomo; Mile 2 to Marina, and Badore to Ijede.

Three of the boats deployed for operations by LAGFERRY have the capacity to carry 60 passengers, two were built to carry 50 passengers, while another two had capacities of 40 passengers. Also, three of the boats will carry 30 passengers, four will carry 25 passengers and two will carry 25 passengers.

All the boats are built with comfortable seats, in-built Wi-Fi and modern technological devices that will aid smooth operations and safety.

Kidnapped Nigerian seminarian has been killed

Sokoto, Nigeria, Feb 1, 2020 / 01:51 pm (CNA).-

One of four Nigerian seminarians kidnapped last month has been killed, reportedly by his abductors. The three seminarians kidnapped along with him were released in the weeks following their kidnapping.

“With a very heavy heart, I wish to inform you that our dear son, Michael was murdered by the bandits on a date we cannot confirm. He and the wife of a doctor were arbitrarily separated from the group and killed. The Rector identified the corpse this afternoon,” Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto, Nigeria, said in a statement released Feb. 1.

Michael Nnadi was 18 years old.

Information about the woman killed with Nnadi is not yet available.

Nnadi himself was taken by gunmen from Good Shepherd Seminary in Kaduna, around 10:30 pm on Jan. 8.

With him were Pius Kanwai, 19; Peter Umenukor, 23; and Stephen Amos, 23. The four seminarians were at the beginning of their philosophy studies.

The gunmen, disguised in military camouflage, broke through the fence surrounding the seminarians' living quarters and began shooting sporadically. They stole laptops and phones before kidnapping the four young men.

On Jan. 20, ACI Africa, CNA’s African news partner, reported that one of the abducted seminarians had been freed by his kidnappers after 10 days in captivity. That seminarian was dumped alongside the highway with extensive injuries, which are believed to have been sustained during the kidnapping. He is now receiving medical treatment.

On Friday, Jan. 31, an official at Good Shepherd Seminary announced that two more of the kidnapped seminarians had been released. At that time, it was reported that one seminary was still at large, and was presumed to remain in captivity. That seminarian was Nnadi.

In his Feb. 1 statement, Bishop Kukah said that he had to delay the announcement of Nnadi’s death slightly until his mother could be informed.

“We have broken the news to her and I will be with her,” Kukah said Feb. 1.

“The Lord knows best. Let's remain strong and pray for the repose of his soul,” Kukah added.

Nearly 270 seminarians live at Good Shepherd.

The seminary is located just off the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria Express Way. According to AFP, the area is “notorious for criminal gangs kidnapping travelers for ransom.”


Schoolgirls and staff from a boarding school located near the same highway were kidnapped in October, and were later released.

In the last year, several priests and seminarians, along with pastors from other Christian denominations, have been kidnapped in Nigeria, some for ranson, and some by Islamist militant and terrorist groups.

Church leaders have called on the government to prioritize the security of its citizens.

“The security situation in Nigeria is appalling”, Thomas Heine-Geldern, executive president of ACN International, said Jan. 13. “Criminal gangs are further exploiting the chaotic situation and making matters still worse.”

He compared the situation in Nigeria to that of Iraq prior to the Islamic State's invasion: “Already at that stage, Christians were being abducted, robbed and murdered because there was no protection by the state. This must not be allowed to happen to the Christians of Nigeria. The government must act now, before it is too late.”

For his part, Bishop Kukah urged prayer.

“Please let us be calm. May God give him eternal rest,” he wrote Feb. 1.

Funeral arrangements for Nnadi have not yet been announced.

MARATHON: LASG issues Travel Advisory to Motorists

The Lagos State Sports Commission has notified motorists that due to the Access Bank-Lagos City Marathon event scheduled to hold on Saturday, 8th February, 2020, the National Stadium in Surulere, to Ikorodu road, as well as the entire stretch of Third Mainland Bridge to Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, inwards Eko Atlantic City, will be closed to traffic for the duration of the race.

A release by the Sports Commission said participants will take off from National Stadium, Surulere on the Lagos Mainland, proceed through the entire stretch of Funsho Williams Avenue/Ikorodu Road to connect Third Mainland Bridge through Gbagada, into Adeniji, Osborne Road down to Bishop Oluwole Street before finishing at Eko Atlantic City in Victoria Island

While noting that no vehicle will be allowed to ply designated routes during the marathon from 4.00 a.m on the scheduled date, the Commission advised motorists to use alternative routes as well as plan their journey in advance.

The statement, therefore, advised that motorists going to Surulere from Lagos Island shall be diverted through Costain Roundabout to connect Ebute-Metta, Orile, Nigerian Brewery, and Bode Thomas to link their final destination, adding that those coming from Masha, Kilo inward Stadium shall be diverted at Shitta Roundabout for onward movement through Falolu or Adeniran Ogunsanya Roads in order to proceed further.

It advised motorists plying Apapa/Orile-Iganmu and going towards Ojuelegba, Mushin and environs to go through Eric Moore, Bode Thomas, Adeniran Ogunsanya, Shitta Roundabout down to Falolu to access endpoints.l, stressing that vehicular movement is allowed on Ikorodu Road, from Anthony (by Theodolite Junction) inward Ojota as well as from Ojota through Maryland, Anthony to Ojuelegba and Eko Bridge via the National Stadium Bridge.

While pointing out that no U-turn is allowed between Anthony and Stadium as a result of the marathon holding from Stadium inwards Anthony, the release informed that motorists coming from Mile-2 inward Gbagada will be diverted into Agege Motor Road via the service lane of BOC Gases/Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, or through Town Planning Way to connect destination.

The statement explained further that cars coming from Old Tollgate, Alapere, Ogudu going to Lagos Island shall be diverted to Gbagada, Anthony to Ikorodu Road - Funsho Williams Avenue to connect Lagos Island through Eko Bridge, while those coming from Ajah inward Ozumba Mbadiwe shall be diverted to Admiralty Way from Lekki Second Roundabout to connect Cable Bridge for their onward trip.

It stated further that motorists descending Cable Bridge into Ikoyi shall be diverted into Gerrard Road to connect Osborne Road, while those from Awolowo Road shall be diverted to Falomo Bridge to connect Ozumba Mbadiwe Road due to the restriction of traffic towards Falomo Roundabout inwards Bourdillion as well as Akin Adesola inwards Bar Beach.

The Commission emphasised that all adjoining streets and feeder roads leading to the designated marathon routes shall be temporarily closed to traffic until all runners leave, in order to ensure the safety of the athletes.

While apologising for any inconvenience the event may cause, the Lagos State Government solicits the co-operation and understanding of the general public in complying with the directives of Traffic and Security Personnel that will be deployed and strategically positioned at major road points and intersections in order to ensure compliance and ease of movement.