Correspondent in Lagos
No fewer than 22 Lagos State residents, who patronise ferry services in the state and took part and won prizes in “N Smiling Promo raffle draw”, organised by the Lagos State Ferry Service Company (LAGFERRY), went home with various items ranging from Life jacket, hair dresser to 4echargeable fan on Friday.
The Managing Director of LAGFERRY, Mr Ladi Balogun,who presented the items to the winners at Ojo Ferry Terminal in Lagos on Friday, said the exercise was to reward “Loyal LAGFERRY passengers” and boost patronage of water transportation in the state.
Other items won at the promo,which was launched on June 10, were: Nokia phone, hair clipper, wall clock, sandwich maker, electric kettle, standing fan, blender, table gas cooker, GOTV decoder, 25 litres cooler and washing machine among others.
Balogun said that all 16 jetties across the state would be involved in the exercise also aimed at popularising water transportation in order to decongest traffic on the Lagos roads, adding that water transportation was safe as well faster.
“We will keep sailing and smiling, courtesy Lagos State Waterways Authority, LAGFERRY and other organisers. This promo was initiated to allow us encourage residents to come on the waterways.
“We are glad that since last week Thursday that the promo news broke out, we have witnessed tremendous improvement in our ridership.
“Last week, we were at Falomo terminal and today we are at Ojo terminal; by next week Friday, we are moving to CMS-Marina terminal.
“Twenty-two people won the raffle draw prize today at the Ojo terminal as against 20 that won at the Falomo, and by the time we go to CMS terminal next week Friday, the winners will increase.
He commended the initiative, saying that it showed improvement in ridership, development he noted was actually hitting the right target.
He said that the grand prize, a brand new car, would be won at the end of September, noting that there would still be second, third and fourth stages of the promo.
The managing director lauded the support and passionate commitment of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for giving the organisation the platform to showcase what the state could do with the waterways.
“This platform has enabled us to exploit the potential the state has on the waterways and the water body which constitutes one-third of the state landmass.
“The promo was initiated to bring more Lagos residents on the waterways so we can be able to decongest traffic on the road.
“In addition, the cowry cards have been deployed to all our jetty terminals to enable passengers use it to make their payment.”
The winner of the washing machine, Mr Clement Olaniyi, urged Lagos residents to patronise LAGFERRY, saying that water transport was safe and faster.
Mr Ayo Akinwande, who won a life jacket, thanked the organisers, urging them to improve on the safety of the waterways.
The Reporters gathered that the promo was facilitated by the Lagos State Waterways Authority, Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, Samsung, Lagos State Lottery and Gaming Authority, LAGFERRY, Elivat9ja, Coscharis Group and the Nigerian Breweries Plc.
