Managing Director, Lagos State Ferry Services (LAGFERRY),
Abdoulbaq Ladi Balogun, at the presentation of cheque to one of the winners,
Awwal Ibrahim, who won a sum N200,000, said the need for waterways users “to
enjoy and maximise” the benefits of using waterways informed the adoption of
the reward system.
“There has been since 2019 a transformation of the waterways
sector and commitment of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to the
development of the state’s waterways, which has afforded essential investment
for crucial growth and acceptability among Lagosians and has led to increase in
daily commuter ridership to 43,000 passengers and ferrying of over 14,000,000
passengers yearly,” he stated.
According to him, the collaboration with Eko Token for the
reward system, which he described as “seamless, wonderful and fantastic
initiative,” is a pathway for waterways users to enjoy added benefits,
extending reward system to users who patronise Lagos Ferry Services.
Balogun urged Lagosians to embrace the waterways as
government is committed to ensuring safety on the waterways through the
establishment of a Search and Rescue Unit, commissioning of a state’s
monitoring and data management Centre, procurement of patrol boats and U-Safe
emergency devices.
The winner, Awwal Ibrahim, speaking at the presentation,
thanked the Lagos State government for the transparent initiative to reward
regular waterways users like him, adding that the initiative will encourage
more people to commute via waterways
“I am a regular passenger of LAGFERRY and when I got the
call that I won N200,000, I didn’t believe. In fact, I cut the calls thinking
it was a scam. I want to thank Mr Governor and Lagos State. This is the only
state that rewards people for using state utilities and services.”
It would be recalled that the Eko Token/LAGFERRY cash reward
promo kicked off on September 1, 2022 and recorded over 10 passengers winning
from N20,000 to N200, 000 cash rewards respectively.