History was made in Brisbane, Australia last week 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 known as 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, is for the initial batch of 60 ferries each with a 200 passenger capacity to be deployed on various routes.
The inspection and agreement signing followed a recent Memorandum of Understanding between the Lagos State Government (represented by the Private Public Partnerships Office and the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA)) and Eko Water Buses Limited, which aims to deploy one ferry for a pilot scheme by July this year. According to the agreement and production schedule, five more of the purpose built and fully-fitted high capacity ferries will be deployed by December this year, making a total of six.
A release signed by Hakeem Bello, Special Adviser to the governor on media stated that about 50 Nigerians will benefit from a comprehensive training programme in marine operations, boat services and repairs in the expansive boat building facility of Aluminium Boats Company in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia as a prelude to the full commencement of the ferry services operations in December.
Fashola and his entourage were received in Brisbane by a representative of the Premier of Queensland, the Treasurer and Minister for Trade, Mr. Tim Nicholls, the top management of Aluminium Boats Company of Australia, including its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Stuart Pascoe and General Manager, Mr. Tommy Ericson as well as representatives of Eko Water Buses Limited, led by its Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Omololu and their technical partners including Mr. John Waterhouse and Captain Elgin Mckilop.
Also on hand to meet with the Governor and his entourage were representatives of international financial institutions backing the landmark project, including Westpac institutional Bank of Brisbane, Commercial Banking of Australia and the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC).
