Uber Launches Pilot Phase Of Its Boat Service

Ride hailing firm,Uber Technologies, has launched a pilot test of their taxi boat service in Lagos.

The service, a two-week pilot phase, is in conjunction with the Lagos State Water Authority (LASWA) and local boat operators, Texas Connection Ferries.

In a statement by Uber’s general manager for West Africa, Lola Kassim said, “We are aware of the man hours and productivity that are lost every day due to vehicular traffic in Lagos state and are looking at ways to provide commuters with an easy and affordable way to get in and out of the city’s business districts,” said Lola Kassim, in a statement.

According to Uber, the service will be available only on weekdays for the next two weeks and will cost 500 naira per trip.

The boats will move four times during the day between the Ikorodu Ferry Terminal, northeast of Lagos, and the Falomo Cowries Terminal, according to the Uber statement.

Lagos state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who launched the service said: “The last couple of years have seen the Lagos State Government commit to building up infrastructure that supports multi-modal transportation, which includes water transport,” he said. “We collaborated with Uber on this because of the shared vision to utilize the waterways more as a means of decongesting the city.”