Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has urged stakeholders to invest in the state’s waterways and collaborate in promoting safer, more efficient, and sustainable water transportation systems across Nigeria.
Speaking at the 2025 Regional Ferry Safety Conference held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Mr Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, highlighted Lagos as a viable market with over 20 functional water terminals and several more jetties under development.
The conference, themed ‘Charity Safer Waters: Advancing Ferry Safety through Innovation, Collaboration, and Integrated Transport Solutions,’ brought together key players in the water transport sector to discuss safety, innovation, and growth opportunities.
Mr Sanwo-Olu emphasised that his administration is committed to building a future where water transportation in Lagos is not only safe but also globally recognised for efficiency and sustainability.
He noted that the state’s collaboration with organisations like WaterAid Nigeria and the UK’s Blue Planet Fund, under the Coastal Resilience Initiative, showcases the power of public-private partnerships in addressing coastal risks and enhancing water transport.
At the heart of Lagos’ strategy, the governor said, is a drive for innovation.
He revealed that the state is exploring modern initiatives such as the Omi-Eko project and plans to introduce electric ferries in the coming years to reduce carbon emissions and align with global environmental standards.
Mr Sanwo-Olu also highlighted significant progress in ferry safety since the establishment of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) in 2008.
He noted that LASWA has been pivotal in regulating the sector, enforcing safety compliance, and providing an enabling environment for operators.
Measures such as compulsory life jacket usage, regular vessel inspections, and comprehensive training for captains and deckhands—delivered in partnership with organisations like Yamaha—have been prioritised.
He further mentioned the deployment of a high-tech control room that delivers real-time data to support safety decisions and the strengthening of collaborations with federal agencies, including the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
However, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, also addressed participants, stressing that maritime safety must be a continuous journey, not a destination.
He emphasised the need for shared knowledge, harmonised standards, and unified action across the region to ensure ferry passengers’ safety from Lagos to other African cities like Lomé, Accra, and Dakar.
Mr Osiyemi noted that, with the rapid population growth in Africa’s coastal cities, ferry services have become an essential part of urban transport.
He said Lagos, under Mr Sanwo-Olu’s leadership, has witnessed a transformation in water transportation through significant investments in terminals and jetties.
More so, the Secretary-General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Paul Adalikwu, commended the state government and LASWA for hosting the conference and setting a practical example for other coastal cities in the region.
He noted that Lagos’ model aligns with emerging global best practices and offers opportunities for further improvements in ferry safety and attractiveness.
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Earlier, the Managing Director of LASWA, Damilola Emmanuel, said the conference aimed to harmonise regional policies and create robust frameworks for safer, more efficient cross-border ferry operations.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to elevating safety, technical, and design standards while positioning ferry services as an integral part of urban mobility.
Mr Emmanuel called on all stakeholders to join forces in building a safer, more resilient future for ferry transport across Africa’s waterways and coastal regions.
