UberBOAT: Uber Expands Operation to Waterways

• UberBOAT: Uber Expands Operation to Waterways

Uber Technologies Inc, a global ride-hailing company, on Friday joined the likes of Gokada to profit from Nigeria’s waterways.

The company launched its boat service in Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos to convey commuters looking to avoid Lagos’s heavy traffic.

According to the United Nations, Nigeria’s population will hit 400 million by 2050, placing it third most populous country in the world after China and India.

The huge population growth and poor infrastructure have made the country attractive to global transport companies.

UberBOAT is operated in partnership with Texas Connection Ferries and the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA).

In a statement released by Uber, the company said: “This initiative is aimed at providing commuters with an easy and affordable way to get in and out of the city’s business districts.”

UberBOAT will operate only on weekdays and passengers will be charged a flat fare of N500 per trip, slightly higher than N300 charged by minibus for a similar journey.

The company’s officials said the UberBOAT can only carry 35 people per trip and will operate four trips per day,

The governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the boat service is part of efforts to ease the state congestion.

He, however, said the state wants ferries that can carry 80 people at a go.

“We want ferries that carry 60 to 80 people,” he said.

Uber now joins Gokada that recently launched Gboat service in an effort to expand operations.