By Cliffsimeon Akalonu
Lagos state Governor, Akinwumi Ambode has commissioned the Ilaje jetty in Bariga area of Lagos with the unveiling of five ferries.
The Governor who said “when I saw how I can transform the area into what I call urban planning and building, I have to stop the dredging work going on in the area then and started the project every Ilaje son and daughter can call their own. Today, the people of this community can use the jetty for social and community events”, Ambode said.
The Governor also used the opportunity to commend His Excellency, President Muhamadu Buhari for his recent visit to Lagos to commission some road projects targeted at relieving transport traffic in Lagos.
He said, “I hoped that the incoming administration will take over from where I stopped for the betterment and more development of Lagos state”.
Speaking at the commissioning, the Chairman Lagos Ferry Service, Hon. Paul Kalajaiye, said that the commissioning of Ilaje jetty signals a multi-dimensional success for water transportation and “this is a demonstration of the long awaited intermodal means of transportation in Lagos state”.
According to him, “the Jetty stands as a tourist attraction, a place of recreation for social purposes. The five ferries that was commissioned with the Jetty will serve in different capacity as two are 40 seaters capacity, the other two ferries are 60 seaters capacity and one ferry will serve as a car batch that can ferry 16 cars at a go”.
Hon. Kalajaiye said “today is a day of accomplishment as we are also commissioning another Jetty in Pagodo and Adamo Orisha to commemorate the very famous celebrated festival in Lagos state”.
He also said that, all safety measures have been considered and applicable to all standards as the state government has also put measures in place for price control to subsidize the cost of water transportation so that all class of people can use the jetty.
Managing Director, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Damilola Emmanuel, said “as an authority, we will ensure that sustainability, appropriate licensing and registration is done and also make sure that all stakeholders abide by the rules and regulations with utmost safety precautions in place”.
