SMELLING OPPORTUNITIES ON THE LAGOS WATER WAYS

History was made in Brisbane, Queensland in Australia on Thursday 19th April 2012 as Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), pushed ahead with another electoral promise of accelerating inter-modal transportation through the extensive use of the state’s waterways, when he witnessed the signing of the Ferry Manufacturing Agreement for the state between Aluminium Boats Company of Brisbane, Australia, and a consortium of water transportation practitioners, Eko Water Buses Limited.

The agreement signing event, which was preceded by an inspection and a ride on one of the prototype ferries, being manufactured for the state, by Fashola and his entourage, is for the initial batch of 60 ferries each, with a 200 passenger capacity to be deployed on various routes. 

The Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Hamzat Obafemi noted in Lagos that since the commencement of water transportation the passengers using ferries  had risen from 400,000 monthly to 1.4 million; a figure expected to increase to over 4 million. 

My serious strategic nose smells that this move by the government will make transportation a lot easier and open up opportunities for complimentary services in this line.

My unserious strategic nose smells that also, it provides avenue for other industries such as HAWKERS that can now parade their wares on the High Lagoon, Vulcanizers that specialize in pumping life jackets, Water traffic wardens, Rescue divers, Beggars that can SWIM and of course, the Water Police Department... to mention a few..