As part of its expansion into Africa, Uber Technologies, a global travel company, piloted a taxi boat service in Lagos, a commercial center in Nigeria, on Friday.
Uber will work with the Lagos State Water Authority (LASWA) and the local vessel operator Texas Connection Ferries for a two-week pilot phase of the vessel service.
Lola Kassim, Uber's general manager for West Africa said they know the daily work hours and productivity losses caused by vehicular traffic in Lagos. They are looking for a convenient and affordable way for commuters to enter and exit the city's business district.
Brooks Entwistle, head of Uber's global business development, said that four months later, the launch of the UberBOAT service indicated that the company hopes to achieve greater growth on the African continent.
This service is only available for the next two weeks of work, and the cost per trip is 500 naira (approximately $1.30).