- Title: NIGERIA: Lagos residents turn to water transport to beat traffic jams
- Date: 26th June 2012
- Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) PASSENGERS WALKING TO FERRY STATION VARIOUS OF BOATS MAN DISTRIBUTING LIFE JACKETS TO PASSENGERS VARIOUS OF MAN COLLECTING FERRY FARE FROM PASSENGERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ADDUR-RAZAQ ABEBEFE, LAGOS RESIDENT SAYING: "It's cheaper for me because if I have to put my vehicle on the road... on average everyday I will have to spend about 2,000 naira (12 US dollars) but if I come by boat I will just spend 1,000 naira (6 US dollars)." PASSENGERS GETTING INTO BOAT VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS SEATED IN FERRY FERRY LEAVING ENGINES FERRY MOVING ON WATER PASSENGERS DISEMBARKING FROM BOAT (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMAKA UKOROGBO, LAGOS RESIDENT SAYING: "We spend hours on the road, just because of traffic meanwhile you can make this journey in 20, 30 minutes max, so why would I stress myself after a hard day's job and then I will go home in fact, finished as it were. So this is faster and very convenient." VARIOUS OF VEHICLES IN TRAFFIC VARIOUS OF TRAINS VARIOUS OF LAGOS STATE WATER WAYS SIGN VARIOUS OF YINKA MAHINHO, LAGOS STATE WATER WAYS AUTHORITY, WORKING AT HIS DESK (SOUNDBITE) (English) YINKA MAHINHO, MANAGING DIRECTOR, LAGOS STATE WATER WAYS AUTHORITY, SAYING: "We move about 1.3 million people a month right now that ply the waterways. I think it will increase with more investors into the sector, like I explained earlier, government is not in the habit of running ferries, what we've said we will do is put in infrastructure in place for ferry operators to come and run their ferries." SPEED BOAT WATERWAY/BUILDINGS IN BACKGROUND
- Embargoed: 11th July 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Science,Transport
- Reuters ID: LVA7ED77VK1QJ44LYG5R4DWY3QLU
- Story Text: At a dock in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos, commuters determined to beat the city's morning jam are getting ready to board boats that will ferry them across town.
Lagos is infamous for its traffic snarl ups that can last for hours. In an effort to decongest the city and cash in on the transportation gap, many operators now run boat and ferry businesses that ply the city's waterways.
"It's cheaper for me because if I have to put my vehicle on the road... on average everyday I will have to spend about 2,000 naira (12 US dollars) but if I come by boat I will just spend 1,000 naira (6 US dollars)," said Addur-Razaq Abebefe, a Lagos Resident.
One third of Lagos is covered by water which makes it ideal for boats to move on lagoons, but the government is yet to set up a major water transportation system in the city.
Private operators use motor engines and canoes to move passengers faster. Though some boats are rickety and overcrowded the businessmen say their clients are safe and provide life jackets.
Water transport operators are required to have a license from maritime authorities to ensure they meet required safety standards.
Most commuters are not as bothered about the risks as they are about spending hours in traffic
"We spend hours on the road, just because of traffic meanwhile you can make this journey in 20, 30 minutes max, so why would I stress myself after a hard day's job and then I will go home in fact, finished as it were. So this is faster and very convenient," said Amaka Ukorogbo, a commuter in the city.
Road users in Lagos blame the traffic situation on broken street lights and reckless minibus drivers where police direct over 300,000 cars everyday.
Lagos State Water Ways Authority or LASWA says it is making provisions to help the ferry and boat operators improve on their service and safety standards.
Yinka Mahinho is the Managing Director at LASWA.
"We move about 1.3 million people a month, right now that ply the waterways, I think it will increase with more investors into the sector, like I explained earlier, government is not in the habit of running ferries, what we've said we will do is put infrastructure in place for ferry operators to come and run their ferries," he said.
The government has also introduced patrol boats on the waterways to improve on safety. In the meantime authorities are looking at expanding infrastructure for trains and buses that use exclusive lanes or Bus Rapid Transport Systems, already operating in the city. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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