Lagos, MOWCA, Interferry unite for safe, modern water transport

Lagos, MOWCA, Interferry unite for safe, modern water transport

 

The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) has partnered the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) and global ferry safety leader, Interferry Association, to enhance safety standards across the state’s inland waterways.

LASWA has also announced efforts to introduce electric boats, jetty upgrade with other modern facilities as part of initiatives to revolutionise water transportation in the state.

Speaking during a facility tour of Lagos waterways on Monday, LASWA General Manager, Mr. Damilola Emmanuel, hosted delegates from MOWCA and Interferry, as well as members of the Transportation Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN).

The tour aimed to assess current safety practices and identify areas for improvement.

“Ferry safety is critical to inland water transport,” Emmanuel noted. “When MOWCA approached us about hosting a ferry safety conference, we saw an opportunity to work with international partners and improve our standards.”

He emphasized that Lagos has made notable strides in ferry safety but is eager to learn from global best practices. “Interferry is a respected global body, promoting ferry safety across Europe, the Americas, Asia—and now, for the first time, West Africa,” he added.

Highlighting LASWA’s existing efforts, Emmanuel outlined several safety initiatives: mandatory use of life jackets, enforced by LASWA’s water guards; bi-annual inspections of commercial boats.

Others are the deployment of smart technologies for real-time jetty monitoring and communication with boat operators; continuous training for captains and deckhands, in partnership with organizations like Yamaha.

“Our Control Room plays a vital role, helping us make data-driven decisions—such as increasing safety measures in areas with higher passenger traffic,”Emmanuel said.

Electric boats

As part of its long-term vision, LASWA is also advancing its Omi-Eko project, which aims to revolutionize water transport through the introduction of electric ferries, jetty upgrades, dredging, and workforce development.

The LASWA GM said, “Electric boats will complement existing petrol-powered vessels.

“We’ve encouraged informal operators to form cooperatives to better access government support.”

Interferry CEO Mike Corrigan expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, revealing his team brought 12 global safety experts to Lagos.

“We’re here to share what we’ve learned on navigation, vessel operations, life-saving systems, and more,” Corrigan said.

“LASWA is now part of Interferry’s global network of nearly 300 members. This is a two-way exchange, and we’re excited to learn from Lagos as well.”

Corrigan also shared Interferry’s vision to expand its involvement across Africa: “This is our third conference and the first in West Africa. Lagos is leading the way, but we hope to support more African cities in the near future.”