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As part of efforts to enhance the use of waterways in the West and Central African sub-region, Lagos State Government has highlighted the need to forge common safety frameworks and share crucial data and intelligence.
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stressed this at the 2025 Regional Ferry Safety Conference, hosted by Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) on Wednesday.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Obafemi Hamzat, also stressed the need to standardize training protocols, and embrace innovative technologies that elevate navigation and emergency response.
“GPS, radar, automation, and advanced ship designs are not just options; they are essential to revolutionizing ferry safety in our region. Our waterways must be not only conduits for transportation but also bastions of safety.
“Together, we must foster partnerships, align our policies, and pursue actionable solutions that will leave a lasting impact long after we depart. As the Governor of Lagos, I assure you that we are not only ready but also resolutely committed to leading the way in creating a future where ferry transportation is efficient, accessible, and, above all, unfailingly safe and sustainable for everyone.
Also speaking, the Secretary-General of the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr. Paul Adalikwu, lamented the devastating impacts of ferry accidents within the sub-region.
“We must ensure that ferry transport, which millions of commuters in the sub-region rely upon daily, is not only efficient and accessible but, above all, safe,” Adalikwu said. “Our discussions here will build on the Libreville Action Plan to set clear, actionable safety benchmarks for the entire region.”
He, however, maintained that the decision to hold the conference in Lagos was not accidental but a recognition of the state’s model achievements in ferry operations and safety.
“Lagos is a cosmopolitan city operating a multi-modal transport system with about 60,000 daily ferry commuters. The robust framework put in place by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) is a shining example of how ferry operations can be made safer and more attractive,” he posited.
Addressing delegates, the General Manager of LASWA, Mr. Damilola Emmanuel, reinforced the need for cross-border policy harmonization and stronger technical standards to ensure that ferry transport becomes a dependable and environmentally sustainable mode of transportation throughout Africa.
He echoed the Governor’s commitment, emphasizing the need for policy harmonization, stronger technical standards, and innovative safety practices to ensure ferry transport becomes a dependable and environmentally sustainable mode of transportation across Africa.
“We are here to forge a safer, more resilient future for ferry transport across Africa’s waterways. We must harness innovation, real-time data, and advanced vessel technologies to protect lives and position ferry transport as a key driver in Africa’s blue economy.”
On his part, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, described maritime safety as a continuous journey that demands vigilance, collaboration, and urgent action.
According to him, ferry incidents anywhere in the region must resonate with us all members and the ambition must be to ensure that every passenger, whether in Lagos, Lomé, Accra, or Dakar, boards a ferry with confidence, knowing that robust systems and a safety-first culture are in place.
The Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, was represented by the Head of Marine, Elsie Egwuatu, and he emphasized the role of NIWA in promoting safer and more efficient inland water transportation across Nigeria’s vast 10,000-kilometre waterways network.
