LASWA partners International Maritime bodies to boost ferry safety, expand water transport
By Seun Ibiyemi
In a landmark effort to enhance maritime safety and expand water transportation, the Lagos State Government has partnered with the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MoCA) and Interferry, a global ferry safety body, to host a regional ferry safety conference in Lagos.
The Managing Director of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, highlighted the importance of this collaboration during a interview with Newsmen, emphasizing that “ferry safety is so important… more or less even water transportation.”
He noted that MoCA’s approach to Lagos to host the event underscores the state's growing reputation for prioritizing safety on its inland waterways.
The conference, which includes participation from international maritime safety experts, aims to improve safety practices in ferry operations across the region. “Interferry has never been to West or Central Africa. We thought, there’s no better time to have this than now,” Emmanuel stated.
Over the years, LASWA has implemented several safety measures including mandatory life jacket enforcement, biannual boat inspections, real-time monitoring of jetties, and increased communication with boats in transit.
He also cited ongoing capacity-building initiatives like captain and deckhand training, often in collaboration with Yamaha and other partners.
The LASWA control room, equipped with data collection and surveillance capabilities, has been pivotal in shaping informed safety decisions. “Data helps us make informed decisions,” Emmanuel explained, adding that the system has helped identify high-traffic areas requiring additional safety resources.
Looking ahead, Emmanuel referenced the Omni Eco Project, a transformative initiative expected to revolutionize Lagos’ water transport system.
This includes the introduction of electric ferries, the upgrading of jetties and terminals, dredging of waterways, and infrastructure investments totaling €400 million.
Despite a drop in ridership last year due to fuel subsidy removal, LASWA anticipates a rebound and significant growth. Current ridership stands at over 50,000 daily, and Emmanuel is optimistic this figure could double with improved infrastructure and public confidence in water safety.
Emmanuel affirmed that while the government continues to strengthen regulation and oversight, it encourages informal operators to form cooperatives, ensuring inclusive growth of the sector.
“Safety has improved,” he said. “But we believe the media and the public should be the ones to confirm if Lagos is now the safest state in Nigeria when it comes to water transportation.”
Also speaking, CEO of Interferry, Mike Corrigan echoed this sentiment:
“We are in Lagos to learn, and also to help LASWA with their impressive mission to improve safety in the waterways here in Nigeria and in Lagos,” Corrigan said.
We are very impressive in terms of how far LASWA has come, and also how far they still want to go. It's an admirable goal, which is why Interferry is so happy to be part of the process.”
Corrigan noted that Interferry, a global ferry trade association representing nearly 300 members worldwide, brought a 12-member expert team to the conference.
“Our team specializes in navigation, vessel safety operations, life-saving measures—essentially all facets of ferry safety. We’re here to share what we’ve learned globally and offer guidance and assistance.”
He confirmed that LASWA is now officially a member of Interferry, marking a significant step in the agency's international collaboration.
“Lagos is currently the only state in Nigeria we are partnering with. But one of our goals is to increase our presence across Africa to help improve ferry safety and waterway infrastructure across the continent,” Corrigan added.