Lagos begins test run of 40-passenger ferries

The Lagos State government is set to test the state-of-the-art 40-passenger ferries built by Caverton Marine Limited in collaboration with the state today (Monday).

The state ministry of transport and the waterways authority announced that the Omnibus pilot operations would focus on thorough testing of the ferries, data collection, public awareness, and operational framework refinement ahead of full deployment.

A Sunday statement added that during the two-week pilot operation period, the ferries would operate on three key routes, with one round trip per day on each route – morning and evening.

The first ferry will depart Ikorodu by 7 am to arrive at Ebute Ero and will head to its final destination at CMS.

The second leg will take off also at Ikorodu by 7 am and arrive on Victoria Island (Addax) by (Drop-off Only) and will drop off its remaining passengers at Falomo, the statemen said.

It added that the third leg for the morning trip would depart Badore at 7 am, arrive at Victoria Island for drop-off, and finally end the trip at Falomo.

The evening trips, the statement said, would be return legs of the morning trips to their respective ferry terminals departing from CMS to Ikorodu by 4:30 pm. Another two ferries will depart from Falomo at 5:30 pm to Ikorodu and Badore, respectively.

“The Omnibus ferries are of international safety and standards and offer a comfortable travel experience,” it added.

The Lagos government, in partnership with Carverton Marine, had in May unveiled 15 locally-built Omnibus FRP 40-seater passenger ferries aimed at enhancing waterway transportation and addressing road traffic congestion.

Speaking at the unveiling and handover ceremony of the ferries at the Caverton Marine Shipyard at Badore-Ajah, Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said with 22 per cent of the state’s landmass covered by water, there was a significant potential for marine transport.