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Lagos State Government Friday announced its partnership with Uber Technologies, Inc. an American multinational ride-sharing company in the area of water transportation.
Announcing the partnership at a media briefing in Lagos, the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the government is entering into the partnership because they want to create an enabling environment for all.
“We are in government because we want to create an enabling environment,” the Governor said.
Sanwo-Olu who narrated how he mooted the idea of boat transport when he was in the United States few months ago with the top management of Uber, said the initiative will further make the movement of about 10 to 12 million people that are moved from one place to the other in Lagos State.
Emphasizing that Lagos State Government is equally committed to other modes of transportation in Lagos, Sanwo-Olu pointed out that water transportation has come to stay in the state.
Assuring that water transportation is a safe means of transport, he noted that the state is also mindful of safety and security which is very important in transport business.
On the state’s future plans, Sanwo-Olu said “We are going to have helicopter shuttle in Lagos. Traffic management and transportation are the pillar of our agenda”.
Also speaking at the media parley, Lola Kassim; General Manager West Africa at Uber, said Uber is aware of Lagos State government’s commitments and extremely strong vision to improve transportation and that is why they are partnering with the state.
“It is an exciting day for Uber in Nigeria. We have helped people to get around their cities reliably in the last five years. We know the Lagos State government has extremely strong vision to improve transportation. This is why we have been taking steps to partner the State Government to see how we can offer easy transportation,” Kassim said.
Speaking further, Kassim said “I announce our Uber Boat. This for us is to see how we can use our Uber Technology to help people move from one place to the other.”
Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Frederic Oladeinde, at the event said the Lagos State Governor in the last few months has been involved in a lot of developmental projects of which transportation management is part of it.
Stating that the marine transportation system will make Lagos State a world class environment Oladeinde said “In bringing the whole thing together, we will be displaying one of the high technology. Lagos State caters for about 14 million people; water transport is one of the most effective ways of transportation”
In his own remark, managing director of Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Damilola Emmanuel said “Today is a symbolic day because what we see in the last few years is development in the inland water ways”.
“We are committed to ensuring that we are able to build with those who are ready to support us”, Emmanuel said.
