Ride-hailing giant Uber Technologies is now exploring other modes of transportation to add to its portfolio.
The company just launched a pilot test of its new service called UberBOAT in Nigeria's commercial capital of Lagos.
The service allows commuters to be ferried from one point of the megacity to another point via a boat, essentially avoiding the city's notoriously horrific traffic congestion.
Uber chose Nigeria to be the testing ground for its proposed new service due to the fact that the country is in line to become the third-most populous country in the world by 2050, according to the United Nations.
The traffic situation in Lagos also makes it the perfect testing ground to attract potential customers who are looking for other modes of getting to their destinations.
The company's chief business officer had hinted on the company's plans back in June. The ride-hailing firm mentioned that it would be launching a new service to cater to the city's 20 million residents, which would be built around the city's waterways.
To quickly establish its new service in the city, Uber had partnered with a local boat operator called Texas Connection Ferries and the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA). Through their partnership, Uber was able to create a system to routes that travel to and from the city's busiest business districts.
For its pilot program, Uber will only be traveling between two fixed locations within the city. The company plans to add more locations later once the program matures. A trip on UberBOAT will cost passengers a flat rate of $1.39 per trip. This is slightly more expensive than traditional ways of commuting, such as on Lagos' minibus systems.
Uber further explained its new service in a press conference late last week, revealing that their boats would be taking an average of four trips per day during the two-week pilot testing phase. Each of the company's boats is reportedly capable of carrying up to 35 passengers.
Government officials in Lagos welcomed the company's launch, stating that the service and the use of its existing waterways are part of a much larger initiative to ease the city's traffic congestion. Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated in a business forum last week that the country's hopes that Uber's new service will prosper and that it will be able to carry more people around the city in the coming months.
Apart from Uber, other ride-hailing firms have also entered the West African market to take advantage of the demand for quick and affordable transportation. In the last few months, a slew of motorcycle ride-hailing firms has launched their services in various cities throughout the country.
