Lagos State government has assured local boat builders of patronage, not only to strengthen the economy but to enhance interest in water transportation and decongest the roads in line with the vision of making water transportation one of the best alternatives to road travel.
The Managing Director, Lagos State Ferry Services (LAGFERRY), Mr. Abdoulbaq Ladi-Balogun gave the assurance during an inspection tour of two major boat factories, V-Craft and Sierra Craft, in Lagos State on Monday.
He affirmed the government’s commitment to efficient water transportation system, saying LAGFERRY has been mandated to identify and patronise local builders who have the capacity to build and adhere strictly to international standard practises.
“We want to build an eco-system and ensure everybody is carried along in achieving the multi-modal transportation initiative of the present administration to decongest the roads, so any manufacturer that meets our criteria will be patronised. We want to encourage local investors, particularly those that have an interest in water transportation to patronise the manufacturers of these boats”, he stated.
While disclosing the State government’s intention to roll out commercial ferry services in the next couple of weeks, Ladi-Balogun assured Lagosians of a new experience in water transportation driven by the latest technology and built on safety, reliability, efficient services, comfort and value for money.
Responding, the Managing Director, Sierra Craft, Mr Olusegun Jaji expressed delight at the interest of the State government in developing local water transportation, especially with assurances to local builders that they would enjoy government patronage, expressing his delight at this administration’s commitment to improving and increasing water transportation.
He asserted his company’s capability of producing and delivering world-class boats of international standard as required by the State government, maintaining that industry players are also ready to key into the vision of the present administration to improve water transportation as a means of decongesting the heavy traffic situation on Lagos roads.
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