In Lagos, plying on the Inland waterways are several commercial ferries and motorized high capacity boats. They are owned by private individuals, institutions and the Lagos state government.

They operate on the waterways in and around Lagos state. They are an alternative to traveling on the chaotic Lagos roads.

These ferry services are offered to transport commuters to a distant destination within minutes, as opposed to hours that it will normally take to travel to the same destination by roads.

A good number of Lagosians use them, especially those who reside in far-flung suburban axis but who work or trade in distant locations.

Autojosh.com was at some of the jetties built by NIWA (National Inland Waterways Authority), the Lagos state governments and some private individuals and institutions.

We got first hand information on how much it costs to patronize these commercial ferry services.

Our observation is that there are several, though slight, variations in the fares demanded for trips to some specific destinations. These variations are determined by the capacity of the engines of the ferries , the quality of the boats, etc.

However, we also observed something as it relates to the fares being charged by the ferry services operators: the amount currently being charged as fares by these commercial ferry operators would be significantly reduced if there were more ferries participating and competing with the few existing ones on the Lagos Inland waterways.

It goes without say, if this mode of mass transit is sincerely explored by the government, it would significantly decongest the roads and rid the state of the legendary road traffic gridlocks in Lagos.

Below are the average amount charged for ferry rides to different locations together with the average duration it takes to complete a trip.

Marina – Apapa

Duration = 7minutes

Fare = N150

Ikorodu – Victoria Island

Duration = 30minutes

Fare = N500.

Ikoyi (near federal secretariat) – Ikorodu

Duration =25 minutes

Fare = N500

Ikorodu – Marina

Duration = 25 minutes

Fare = N700

Ikorodu – Oyingbo

Time = 30 minutes

Fare = 500

Marina – Oyingbo

Time= 6 minutes

Fare = N 500

Marina – Ebute-Ero

Time = 3 Minutes

Fare = 350

Marina – Ikoyi (near federal secretariat)

Time= 20 minutes

Fare =500

Marina – Lekki

Time = 30 minutes

Fare = 700

Bayon- Marina

Time = 30 Minutes

Fare =100/200

Marina – Takwa Bay

Time = 20 Minutes

Fare = N100/200

Marina – Sabo-Koji

Duration= 10 minutes

Fare: N100

Marina – Badagry

Duration= 45 minutes

Fare =N1000

Marina – Ojo

Duration= 30 minutes

Fare =N1000

Ikorodu – Mile 2

Duration =45 Minutes

Fare= N1000

Ikorodu-Apapa

Duration = 25minutes

Fare = N700

Marina – Ofin

Duration = 30 minutes

Fare= 1000

Ebute Ero – Epe

Duration = 1 Hour

Fare= N1300

Ofin-Badagry

Duration = 35 minutes

Fare = N1000