Inside Lagos’ push to overhaul water transport, with focus on safety, integration

The Lagos state government is intensifying efforts to overhaul its inland water transport as a major component of its mobility network, with authorities planning for full integration with road and rail systems.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with BusinessDay Television, Oluwadamilola Emmmanuel, special adviser to the Lagos State governor on Blue Economy, said the state’s water transport system has evolved significantly since the agency’s establishment in 2008, with major reforms introduced from 2015 focused on safety, regulation, and infrastructure development.

Emmanuel, who doubles as the general manager of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), said that early investments were largely driven by the state government, which built jetties across several local government areas, carried out dredging and channelisation works, and acquired initial patrol boats to support operations on the waterways.

He explained that a major shift in strategy began in 2015 when the agency prioritised safety as the foundation for growth in water transportation.

Read also: LASWA to prosecute violators of night journeys ban on waterways

“Safety was a big problem, and it gave a negative connotation to the waterways. We decided to focus on safety before thinking about increasing demand and supply,” Emmanuel said.

He noted that the agency increased its operational personnel from about 40 to over 100 water guards with the approval of the state government, a move he said contributed to a significant reduction in accidents.

“Before, we were averaging about 10 to 12 incidents annually, from minor to major cases. After strengthening enforcement and training, accidents reduced to about five or six in the first year, and now we are looking at between zero and two annually,” Emmanuel said.

LASWA also established what it described as the first waterways monitoring and data management centre in sub-Saharan Africa, located in Lagos, to enable real-time monitoring of jetties and water operations.

The agency is also preparing to introduce real-time tracking of boats across the waterways as part of a new phase of technological upgrades approved by the state government.

“We are now going to track boats in real time wherever they are in the water. Even when they are in danger, all we need is a signal back to the office,” LASWA GM said.

On safety enforcement, he said it introduced mandatory biannual inspections for boats, alongside random checks to improve compliance, particularly in the commercial transport segment.

He also said life jacket compliance had improved significantly following enforcement measures and public awareness campaigns.

“If you look at the waterways now in Lagos, there is almost 95 percent compliance with wearing life jackets. If you don’t wear it, you are in trouble,” Emmanuel said.

A major component of Lagos’ long-term strategy is the €410 million investment-backed project known as the OMI EKO project, supported by the French Development Agency (AFD), European Investment Bank (EIB), and the European Union, alongside state counterpart funding and private sector participation.

The project is expected to deliver over 70 electric ferries, upgrade 25 jetties and terminals, and support dredging and channelisation of about 140 kilometres of waterways.

“It is a five-year project running from 2025 to 2030 or 2031. It will significantly boost water transportation in Lagos,” he said.

Read also: Lagos unveils €410m ‘Omi Eko Project’ to transform water transport

Emmanuel said the state is working to integrate water transport with rail and road systems under a broader multimodal strategy led by the Ministry of Transportation and its agencies, including the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

He also noted that interchanges are being developed at Mile 2 and Marina, where rail, bus, and water transport systems will converge. 

Despite progress, he acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly around funding, regulatory overlap, and human-related safety breaches.

“Funding is never really enough for a growing sector, and there are competing priorities such as health and education.

“We also face jurisdictional challenges and sometimes carelessness from personnel or operators,” Emmanuel said.

He added that collaboration with federal agencies, including the Marine Police and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has been critical in the enforcement and prosecution of offenders.

Emmanuel further said that he envisions a fully regulated water transport system within the next decade, driven by electric ferries, scheduled operations, and stronger integration with other transport modes.

“In the next 10 years, I see well-regulated water transportation with scheduled ferries, proper infrastructure, and better integration with road and rail,” he said.